Cold snap puts a freeze on Lester Prairie bridge

By Ivan Raconteur, Staff Writer
Cold weather led contractor Duininck Bros. Construction of Prinsburg to suspend work on the new bridge over the Crow River in Bergen Township last week, according to an update provided by McLeod County Engineer John Brunkhorst.

The company also removed one of the cranes it had been using from the site to be serviced.
The company hopes to resume work on the bridge this week with installation of falsework which will help to support the new bridge during construction.  Motorists have had to use alternative routes since the old bridge was closed in December 2007, due to structural deficiencies.Duininck Bros. was awarded the contract for replacement of the bridge last August for a bid of $750,718.

The old bridge was removed last fall, and construction of  the substructure of the new bridge was completed in early December.Pouring of the bridge deck is expected to begin in early February, and the bridge could open to traffic in March or April, according to
Brunkhorst.