Winona bridge open to trucks

Winona bridge closed
A Minnesota Highway Patrol car blocks the entrance to the Highway 43 bridge over the Mississippi River. MnDOT officials closed the bridge June 3, because of concerns about several gusset plates.
MPR Photo/Brandt Williams

Trucks are driving again this morning on the Highway 43 bridge over the Mississippi River at Winona.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation says the bridge reopened to truck traffic Monday evening, 10 days ahead of schedule.

Winona Mayor, Jerry Miller, said gusset plate repairs are now finished.

"Our port here, there's a lot of farm commodities that come from Wisconsin. That can start flowing freely here and we're happy to have it come to this good conclusion here," Mayor said.

The bridge remains closed to pedestrians and cyclists. The bridge closed June 3 after state inspectors discovered corrosion in several gusset plates.

MnDOT said additional work will begin later this month to repair the pedestrian sidewalks and the bridge joints.

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