((Roseville, Minn.)The Minnesota Department of Transportation announced today that the eastbound Wakota Bridge construction has been eliminated from the current contract. The decision came after months of negotiations failed to develop an agreement for construction of the remaining bridge. According to Khani Sahebjam, Mn/DOT’s Metro District Engineer, “Mn/DOT concluded that in fairness to Minnesota taxpayers and to fulfill our responsibility to manage construction costs, the eastbound Wakota Bridge construction would be reopened for competitive bidding.”

The current contract, minus the eastbound I-494 river bridge construction, remains in force and Mn/DOT will work with Lunda Construction to complete other roadway and bridge construction on the project, including demolition of the old Wakota Bridge.

The time-frame for the rebidding and awarding a new contract for the eastbound Wakota Bridge has not been determined, however, Mn/DOT is committed to completing the eastbound river bridge and the remaining work on the Wakota project as soon as possible. Completion of the eastbound Wakota Bridge is expected to take two to three years after the project is re-bid.

The westbound Wakota Bridge was completed and opened to traffic in fall 2006. There are currently three lanes of traffic east and westbound on the new bridge. “These new traffic lanes are generating significant congestion reduction, more reliable commute times and an overall safer traveling environment for motorists,” Sahebjam said, “Hwy 61 has also seen significant improvement in traffic movements as that corridor nears completion.”

The Wakota project is located in the southeast Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area. The project includes the reconstruction of I-494 and Highway 61, including the replacement of the Wakota Bridge over the Mississippi River on I-494. The project also includes associated roadway improvements in St. Paul and Maplewood in Ramsey County; South St. Paul in Dakota County; Newport, St. Paul Park, Woodbury, and Cottage Grove in Washington County.