Winona, MN (KROC AM News) -  The old Winona bridge that crosses the Mississippi River is expected to close this week as rehabilitation work begins.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation has awarded the project to Ames Construction, which submitted a work package totaling $38.9 million.The contract is for work on the through truss bridge and removal of the approach spans.


“We’re pleased to continue the next stage of this project,” said Terry Ward, MnDOT project manager of the Winona Bridge project. “The bid came in very close to the project team’s cost estimate, which is significant for this bridge rehabilitation work.”


Due to the closure, traffic on the new bridge that recently opened will be limited to single lanes in both directions.The rehabilitation project is expected to be completed in fall of 2019 or spring of 2020.

Winona Street between Fourth and Fifth streets will be closed to through traffic for three to four weeks. Inbound traffic to Winona on the new bridge will only be able to make a right turn as it exits the bridge. Outbound traffic will only be able to access the new bridge by making a left turn from Fourth Street. This short-term traffic phase will allow Ames to complete the new intersection at the base of the bridges in Winona and place a traffic signal at this intersection.

More From Y-105FM