Bridge to be fixed by mid-January

The section of the international bridge which was damaged Dec. 1 when a heavy truck entered the wrong lane will be repaired and re-opened by Jan. 21.
In the meantime, southbound traffic will continue to use the centre portion of the bridge normally reserved for heavy trucks and trains.
Northbound traffic is not affected.
The Minnesota, Dakota and Western Railroad and the International Bridge and Terminal Co. announced yesterday a consulting engineering firm–Short, Elliot and Hendrickson–had completed a survey and study of the damaged section of the bridge and E.S. Fox Co. had assessed the repairs.
The damaged steel will be replaced with new parts, with the cost of repairs expected to be between $60,000-$100,000 (Cdn.), for which the companies will file an insurance claim.
The companies assured the public the cost of repairs will not be passed onto bridge users–and commuter safety will not be at risk.
“Performing the work safely and ensuring the safety of this portion of the bridge are the most important items. There will be no compromises in either of these areas,” Tuesday’s press release stated.
“The companies regret any inconvenience this has caused bridge users and thank everyone for their patience during the lane closure while the repairs are made,” it added.
The cantilever section of the bridge, which is attached to the side of the main bridge and not supported by columns, was bent when a loaded pulpwood truck entered the wrong lane.
The lane is designated for smaller vehicles weighing seven tons or less but the loaded truck, weighing more than 35 tons, ignored two signs indicating the lane was for lighter vehicles and forced the steel grating to sink about a foot.