DULUTH, Minn.and SUPERIOR, Wis -- Both eastbound lanes (to Superior) of the John A. Blatnik Memorial Bridge (Interstate 535/U.S. 53) will be closed beginning at 9 a.m., Thursday, June 12, so crews can complete gusset plate strengthening work on the structure.

The closure is anticipated to last about 2 weeks, depending on weather.

One westbound traffic lane (to Duluth) will remain open during this time.

Detour signs will be posted in Duluth directing motorists traveling from Minnesota to Wisconsin to the Richard I. Bong Memorial Bridge (U.S. Highway 2).

The contractor plans to work 6 days a week, 10 hours a day, during good weather to minimize the duration of the closure.

Once the work is done on the eastbound side of the bridge, the work and traffic closure will move to the westbound side. This work will also require approximately 2 weeks of good weather.

The public will be notified in advance of the detour change.

On May 6, 2008, 2 lanes of the bridge were closed to lessen the load on the 7,980-foot long structure after engineering calculations and field inspections determined that gusset plates at several locations did not meet the bridge’s load requirement.

The general contractor for this project is Ames Construction Company of Burnsville, Minn., and its subcontractor, Danny’s Construction Company, of Shakopee, Minn.

The project is valued at approximately $1.1 million.

Repair costs will be split evenly between the Minnesota and Wisconsin departments of transportation.

For additional information, visit the project Web site at http://www.dot.state.mn.us/projects/535-blatnik

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