Lafayette bridge inspections begin today

Motorists can expect delays during the next two weeks while crews perform an in-depth inspection of a major bridge leading in and out of downtown St. Paul.
The annual routine inspection of the Highway 52 Lafayette bridge begins today.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation says during the inspection, traffic will be restricted to a single lane in the direction being inspected.
The closures will last between 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. each week day. Electronic signs will alert drivers to which side of the bridge is being examined.
Inspection activities will be cancelled in case of high winds or other inclement weather.
The Lafayette bridge across the Mississippi on the east side of St. Paul has been rated as one of the most structurally deficient spans in the state.
MnDOT plans to start construction on its replacement in 2011.
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