New bridge brings new era to Winona

WINONA, MN — Saturday morning, many local, state and federal leaders joined residents as they celebrated the completion of the new 150 million dollar bridge.

It replaces a deteriorating bridge that engineers say had a chance of collapsing.

The new bridge allows residents to safely cross the Mississippi and into Wisconsin.

Senators Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar along with Representative Tim Walz attended Saturday’s event.

Franken says the bridge is an example of how government can work together.

“What a great ceremony today and what a great evidence of a town working together, community working together, working with the state, working with the federal…the ‘feds,’ And this is one of those things where government works. It’s on time, on budget…it’s a good news day,” Senator Franken said.

The finished bridge is actually the half way point in a larger project that includes restoring the original bridge.

The complete project is expected to be done in the spring of 2020.