Good news for drivers who use Hwy. 61 bridge near Hastings. The bridge reopened Monday afternoon, officials from the Minnesota Department of Transportation said.
Both the northbound and southbound lanes of Hwy. 61 were closed Friday night so crews could to float the main span of the new $120 million four-lane bridge into place.
MnDot shut down the highway to prevent gawker slowdowns over the weekend and detoured drivers via Interstate 494 and Hwys. 52 and 55.
Water traffic on the Mississippi River between the bridge and Lock and Dam No. 2 was also curtailed while the work was underway. River traffic will resume at 2 p.m. today.
The bridge was not supposed to until Monday night, but crews finished their work early allowing for the early opening, said Kristen Klein, a MnDOT spokeswoman.
Tim Harlow • 651-925-5039 Twitter: @timstrib
