Hwy. 61 Bridge repairs reduce traffic to one lane

Associated Press

Last update: May 12, 2008 - 5:22 AM

HASTINGS, Minn. - Traffic on the Highway 61 Bridge over the Mississippi River will be reduced to one lane at all times and will stay that way until mid-July.

Work crews will be performing maintenance work and painting the bridge after the scheduled reduction of lanes starting at 10 p.m. Sunday. The Minnesota Department of Transportation says traffic delays could be significant.

About 32,000 cars cross the Hastings bridge everyday.

MnDOT has announced it will replace the bridge in 2010. As a result the agency decided to reduce the amount of maintenance and painting this year. Officials say they're doing the work needed to keep the bridge safe and in good repair until it's replaced.

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Information from: Minnesota Public Radio News, http://www.mpr.org