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(AP) - A bridge over the Red River along the
North Dakota-Minnesota border has been closed after an inspection
prompted by the Interstate 35W bridge collapse found a crack in a
support bracket.

      Transportation departments in both states said the bridge was
closed Tuesday night. It is known as the Robbin Bridge along
Highway 11 in northwestern Minnesota and as the Drayton Bridge on
North Dakota Highway 66. Officials said a crack was found in a
support bracket for a girder.

      Bob McFarlin, an assistant to the Minnesota transportation
commissioner, said that in May, inspectors found a crack in a weld
that joined two pieces of steel - a finding that wasn't serious
enough to close the bridge. Tuesday, however, inspectors found that
the crack had spread a few inches into the steel bracket.

      The crack is in an approach near the North Dakota side of the
bridge, McFarlin said. No one was in danger, he said.

      The 1,058-foot long truss bridge, which is 53 years old, was not
scheduled to be inspected again until April next year at the
earliest. It was scheduled for replacement in 2009.

      Gov. Tim Pawlenty ordered the inspection of state bridges after
the Aug. 1 I-35W bridge collapse, which killed 13 people and
injured about 100 more.

      Les Noehr, a district engineer for the North Dakota Department
of Transportation, said representatives from both states were
looking at the bridge Wednesday and discussing repairs.

      Noehr said he doubted the bridge replacement schedule would be
moved up.

      "It doesn't look like that will be necessary at this point,"
he said.

      The bridge is used by trucks hauling sugar beets to area
processors. In December, it was damaged by a semitrailer hauling a
load of farm equipment. 

Officials said then that the load exceeded
the height of the bridge trusses on the Minnesota side of the
river. The bridge also is in an area prone to spring flooding.

      "There's a whole host of things, certainly just use, weather,"
Noehr said, of the factors that might have contributed to the
crack.

      The bridge likely will be closed for several days, officials
said.

      On the Minnesota side, motorists can cross the river at state
Highways 317 or 175. On the North Dakota side, drivers can take
Highway 5 or Highway 17.

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Patrick Condon, Associated Press

Author

MnDOT said the Robbin Bridge on Highway 11 in far northwestern Minnesota was closed Tuesday night after a crack was found in a support bracket for a girder.


Red River bridge closed after inspectors find crack

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