Work to repair about 15 gusset plates on the Hwy. 43 Bridge connecting Winona to western Wisconsin will start no later than Thursday, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) said this afternoon.

An emergency contract has been awarded to Edward Kraemer & Sons, Inc., of Burnsville, with a bid of $108,200.

The project is to be completed within three weeks.

The bridge was closed for 11 days starting June 3 because of rust and corrosion found in gusset plates at several locations on the bridge.

The repair work will focus on the "most critical gusset plates first" so truck traffic can resume on the bridge over the Mississippi River as soon as possible, MnDOT said.

Pedestrians and bicyclists are still restricted from crossing the bridge until a third emergency contract begins additional repairs, including bridge joint cleaning and painting, and replacing the sidewalk. This work is expected to begin in August and be complete by late summer/early fall, weather permitting, MnDOT said.

For more information, visit www.dot.state.mn.us/projects/43-winona/.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482