ST. PAUL, Minn. -- In what amounts to a construction first in Minnesota, crews creatively moved the Maryland Avenue bridge over Interstate 35E Saturday.
Officials with the Minnesota Department of Transportation say it's the first time they've used a "self-propelled modular transporter" to move structures. Starting Saturday morning, they used the equipment to move the two halves of the Maryland Avenue bridge, one half at a time.
"It's pretty exciting for us to try new and innovative construction techniques. So we can lessen congestion. We can lessen the amount of time that people are inconvenienced out here. Make it a much safer work zone," said Kent Barnard with MNDOT.
Barnard said closure time for the bridge deck was reduced from 120 days down to 60 days, given the new technology. Road closures did remain in place through 4 a.m. Sunday, however, including: I-35E, between Hwy. 36 and I-94.
Officials say the Maryland Avenue bridge should be reopened to the public by Sept. 17.
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