State officials announced tentative plans for the replacement bridge Tuesday.
Lieutenant Governor Carol Molnau, who is also the state's transportation commissioner, said the state was considering a bridge with five lanes of traffic each way. The collapsed bridge had four lanes each way.
The improvements to the transportation system in the area might not end there. The replacement bridge could also be built with an eye toward accommodating bus rapid transit or light rail in the future.
"We're not only going to rebuild a bridge," said Gov. Tim Pawlenty at a news conference with Molnau and other state, local and federal officials.
Officials said that by Sept. 1 they hope to hire a contractor to build the new bridge. The deal will include incentives for early completion.
President Bush visited Minnesota Saturday and pledged to have a new bridge in place in 18-months.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
