Washed-Out Bridge Rebuilt In Northeastern Minn.

DULUTH, Minn. (AP) — Traffic is moving again on Jean Duluth Road more than six months after last June's floods in northeastern Minnesota.

Crews rebuilt the washed-out bridge that spans the Lester River north of Duluth. The road reopened to traffic Monday.

An average of 4,100 motorists traveled the bridge daily before the storm. The St. Louis County Public Works Department sped up the bridge's rebuilding to get the road reopen.

Public Works Director Jim Foldesi says normally a project of that size would take three to four years to complete.

Redstone Construction of Mora was the prime contractor. The project includes 12-foot-wide lanes, plus 8-foot shoulders.

The project cost about $1 million. Federal Highway Administration Emergency Relief funds covered 80 percent of the costs. State flood bonding paid for 20 percent.

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