Lane Closures Scheduled for Next Week for Winona Interstate Bridge Inspection

File Photo

WINONA, Minn. — Motorists in Winona should be alert June 21-24 for lane closures during daytime hours as the Minnesota Department of Transportation conducts routine inspections on the Hwy 43 bridges over the Mississippi River.

The inspections will affect traffic this way:

• The outbound Hwy 43 bridge over the Mississippi River will have a daily right lane closure
• The inbound Hwy 43 bridge over the Mississippi River will have a sidewalk closure

The inspections evaluate the safety and monitor the effects of traffic, weather, and other elements on the structure.

Inspectors will use a snooper truck to evaluate the bridges. A snooper truck is a specialty vehicle that has a multi-jointed arm with a basket attached at the end to hold the bridge inspectors. The equipment allows the inspection team to maneuver under the bridge, while the truck is parked on the bridge deck.

MnDOT bridge inspectors will evaluate approximately 404 structures for MnDOT and 520 bridges for cities and counties in southeast Minnesota in 2021 as part of their routine inspection schedule to ensure the safety and longevity of the state’s bridges.

(MnDOT)