New Larpenteur Avenue Bridge goes up Wednesday

It's never been done before in Minnesota, but MnDOT engineers are preparing to slide a 3.5 million pound bridge into place Wednesday night.

Interstate 35E will close in the northern part of St. Paul starting at 7 p.m. so that the new Larpenteur Avenue Bridge can move into place. The new bridge has been under construction for months right next to the old one.

The old bridge came down a few weeks ago and the new one will move into place during an 8-hour maneuver.

MnDOT is trying out this technique, which can save money and keep traffic running more smoothly. If it goes well, the department may ask other bridge construction contractors to try it elsewhere.