MINNEAPOLIS - The Minnesota Department of Transportation says Highway 55/Hiawatha Avenue between East 26th Street and Lake Street will reopen at 5 a.m. Monday.
The road has been closed for nearly a week after a cable broke free on the Martin Olav Sabo Bridge over Highway 55 on February 19th.
"Everybody was very surprised," says Mike Kennedy, director of transportation and repair for the city of Minneapolis. "The bridge is just over four years old and our last inspection showed no red flags."
Crews spent part of Sunday testing the stability and the connection points on the cable-stayed bridge.
Even though the road is reopening Monday morning to traffic, the bridge remains off limits.
"The bridge itself will remain closed until completely rehabbed," said Kennedy.
And that could take months. It means bikers will return to cooperating with the cars at intersections like Hiawatha and 28th.
"I prefer to not be faced with so much traffic," says Marnie Erpestad, an avid biker who frequents the bridge. "I don't trust all the drivers to stop when they're supposed to let me get across."
Mike Kennedy thanked the public's patience and said the bridge will still be considered a construction zone for quite some time.
"Better be safe than sorry," he said. "Public safety and worker safety is paramount."
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