MnDOT seeks ideas for replacing St. Paul bridge
Minnesota transportation officials plan to replace an aging steel bridge over the Mississippi River east of downtown St. Paul starting in 2011.
The DOT wants to hear citizens' ideas on the project during an open house Thursday.
The Highway 52 Lafayette Bridge's main spans are "fracture critical," which means the failure of any number of structural elements could bring the whole bridge down. The bridge has developed structural steel fatigue since it opened to traffic 41 years ago, requiring frequent inspections.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation says there's no immediate safety risk.
The open house is from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the West Side Community Organization in St. Paul.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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