News Series:  "Building Bridges", demo work almost done
by Jim Maurice, WJON.com

ST. CLOUD -- With the demolition of the old Highway 23 Bridge nearly complete, MnDOT is gearing-up to start building the new bridge.

St. Cloud City Engineer Steve Gaetz says there are just a few steel beams remaining from where old bridge used to be, and they should be gone by the end of the week. He says the next step will be to remove the concrete piers from the water.

Gaetz says they're anticipating those piers will be removed by the end of next week. And then the building of the new bridge can officially begin.

MnDOT says it will take almost exactly a year to build the new bridge. And they will work through the winter to finish it on time.

It's scheduled to open on November 1st of next year.

For more on the bridge demolition project -- an audio version of this story with extended comments, and pictures of the demolition work -- go to our "Building Bridges" page.