Camden Bridge to reopen in Minneapolis

After five months of detours, drivers in north Minneapolis will be able to use the Camden Bridge Saturday to cross the Mississippi River.

Workers replaced important support mechanisms on the bridge with funding from a $10 million Recovery Act grant. Repairs had been on hold since 2004 for lack of funding.

Minneapolis City Council member Kevin Reich represents the First Ward, on the east end of the 35-year-old bridge. He says his office has gotten many calls from constituents complaining about the closing.

"To have it over, to have it over quickly, essentially ahead of schedule is an immense relief and I would suggest that having it over before school season is one key highlight to that," Reich said.

Minneapolis officials say they cut the time needed for renovations down from two years to five months by completely closing the bridge, rather than leaving it partially open.

The Camden Bridge spans both the Mississippi River and Interstate 94, connecting 42nd Avenue North on the west and 37th Avenue Northeast on the east.

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