Mississippi River bridge repairs set for tomorrow

Minnesota Department of Transportation officials said repairs of corroded gusset plates on the Mississippi River bridge in Winona are scheduled for Tuesday.

Inspectors found the corroded plates last week. Gusset plates help bridges expand and contract.

MNDot spokeswoman Kristine Hernandez says the repairs should take just one day.

"But as a precautionary measure we are going to restrict trucks to a 40 ton limit, which only really impacts commercial vehicles and perhaps larger farm equipment that may want to cross," Hernandez said.

Hernandez said those vehicles will have to take a 60 mile detour.

The Winona bridge is more than 70 years old. It's scheduled for replacement in 2014.

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