Long overdue Minn. bridge project gets scrutiny

St. Paul, Minn. (AP)

November 22, 2008 5:50 PM

The Wakota bridge project — Reconstruction of the Interstate 494 bridge, also known as the Wakota bridge, is half completed. The westbound span opened in 2006, but a design flaw has delayed the opening of the eastbound lane until 2010.
Photo courtesy of MnDOT

One of Minnesota's highest profile bridge projects goes under the legislative microscope this week.

The House Commerce and Labor Committee is meeting Tuesday to get a progress report in the long-overdue replacement of the Wakota Bridge.

The Interstate 494 span over the Mississippi River was supposed to be done more than a year ago. But a design flaw forced revisions to the original plan and led to construction delays.

When it's finished... — The Wakota bridge, which carries I-494 traffic over the Mississippi River in the southeastern metro, will look like this after it's rebuilt. The project is more than a year overdue.
Image courtesy of MnDOT

Last week the design firm HNTB Corp. reached a $20 million settlement with the Minnesota Transportation Department.

The westbound span of the bridge opened to traffic in 2006 and is used to carry traffic in both directions. The eastbound span is headed for completion in 2010.

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