Highway 43 bridge in Winona/Photo by Alissa Haupt
Issues: The bridge is reaching the end of its design life. The Winona bridge was one of 25 bridges with a design similar to I-35W bridge that underwent inspection. In June the bridge closed after inspectors discovered rust and corrosion in some of the gusset plates. The gusset plates have since been repaired and strengthened.
Fracture critical? Yes
Structurally deficient? No
Sufficiency rating: 49.8
Deck rating: 6
Superstructure rating: 5
Substructure rating: 6
Length: 2,289 feet
Width: 34.4 feet
Average daily traffic: 11,600 vehicles
Passes over: Mississippi River into Fountain City, Wis.
Constructed in: 1941; remodeled in 1985
Construction starts in: 2014
Construction should finish in: 2016
Cost: $175 million to $250 million for Minnesota. Wisconsin will pay the other half.
Detour: The new bridge will be built off-line from the current structure, so traffic will be maintained until construction is complete.
New bridge: The new bridge will have wider shoulders and pedestrian and bike facilities. It may have four lanes.
Source: Minnesota Department of Transportation
Alleen Brown is a senior journalism and global studies student at the University of Minnesota.
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