Sep 7, 2008 11:14 pm US/Central
I-35W Bridge Almost Done, Small Details Left
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ―
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Crews are still busy around the clock on the I-35W bridge, but now it's down to the smaller details including surfacing the road, painting, lighting and landscaping.
CBS
Excitement is building over the opening of the rebuilt Interstate 35W bridge. It could be finished as early as Tuesday, Sept. 16.
Crews are still busy around the clock on the I-35W bridge, but now it's down to the smaller details including surfacing the road, painting, lighting and landscaping.
Bridge area neighbors, like Eric Timm, have been watching the progress over the past 13 months.
"Quite amazing to see how fast they've come in such a short time," said Timm.
Timm and others in Southeast Minneapolis are looking forward to less traffic on city streets and a faster commute.
"I'm very excited about that for the whole community because I know it's very difficult for a lot of people working downtown or for the university," said Nancy Battaglia.
Minnesota Department of Transportation officials say there should be minimal delay, if any, from completing construction to opening the bridge to traffic. It's estimated each day the bridge is closed costs the community $400,000.
"That roadway carries 141,000 cars a day. The collapse basically tore a hole in Intestate 35. We want to get that repaired as quickly as possible and get it open to traffic so that we can get people back to driving the way they used to drive," said Kevin Gutknecht with MnDOT.
MnDOT officials say there will be some sort of ceremony for the bridge opening, but it hasn't been decided yet what form that will take.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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