Highway 23 bridge in St. Cloud is demolished
The old Minnesota Highway 23 bridge that spanned the Mississippi River in St. Cloud has been demolished. On Thursday, crews took down the last remaining pier on the DeSoto Bridge to clear the way for the new bridge.
After drilling the bottom of the pier, workers loaded it with an explosive and set the charges off. The other pier was demolished last week.
The DeSoto bridge was closed to traffic in March after inspectors found four slightly bent gusset plates.
Transportation officials hope to open the new bridge by November 2009.
---
Information from: St. Cloud Times, http://www.sctimes.com
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Political Coverage Powered by You
Your gift today creates a more connected Minnesota. MPR News is your trusted resource for election coverage, reporting and breaking news. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.