Southbound Highway 61 coming into Hastings will see delays beginning May 20

Beginning May 20, Highway 61 near Hastings will be reduced to a single lane in each direction through the intersection of Highway 10/Point Douglas Drive and Highway 61.

Clothier is first civilian to cross new bridge

When construction started on the new Hastings bridge a few years ago, workers kept seeing a familiar face appear. He was hard to miss — on his little scooter, Bill Clothier stood out from the crowd. He’d show up every day (weather permitting), ask questions, poke around and make jokes.

• Bill Clothier

Almost time: MnDOT sets June 5 as target date to open new bridge to traffic

It won’t be long now. Traffic will be routed onto the new Hastings bridge on or about Wednesday, June 5, according to project manager Steve Kordosky of the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

• The new bridge

Overnight delays expected over bridge May 8 and 9

Utility work on the Hastings bridge next Wednesday and Thursday, May 8 and 9, may cause traffic delays. The work will restrict traffic to a single lane in both directions of Hwy 61 between Fourth Street and Highway 10 between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. each day.

New Hastings bridge is on schedule: One lane of traffic in each direction will be routed to the new bridge around June 1

Just two months from now, one lane of traffic in each direction will be running on the new Highway 61 bridge in Hastings. Steve Kordosky, the project manager from the Minnesota Department of Transportation, said this week that the bridge is right on schedule. He expects the shift to occur in late May or right around the first of June.

Pricetag for bridge grows: MnDOT to pay $2.1 million to speed up construction

The price for the new Hastings bridge just went up by at least $2.4 million. The Minnesota Department of Transportation agreed last week to pay the contractor in the project $2.1 million for overtime to keep the project on schedule for a December 2013 completion.

A color for the next century: ‘Terra cotta’ bridge color was chosen to stand out, match downtown

There’s been much talk about the color of the new bridge. Some, viewing the main span during its move last weekend, said they weren’t so sure about the color, while others appreciated that it stands out. Officially, the bridge color is “terra cotta.” It was chosen by the Visual Quality Team in December of 2010.

A massive lift, massive relief - Bridge crews worked long hours, drank 50 gallons of coffee and ate 10 gallons of chili

Late Sunday night, a member of the team of builders working on the new Hastings bride left the work site to go on a quick break. As the man, Jerry Volz, reached Second Street, he saw a car pull up along the roadside.

• Image

Bridge reopens to traffic

The Hastings bridge has been reopened to traffic, having been closed all weekend while bridge construction crews lifted the main span of the new bridge into place.

• Bridge traffic

Bridge lift complete; time-lapse video is now online

The main span for the new Hastings bridge was moved into place Sunday evening, and the lift of the 6.5 million pound structure began overnight.

• Click here to watch the time-lapse video
• The scene at 5:15 p.m. Sunday
• The scene at 1 a.m.

Bridge project on schedule for Saturday; span will be floated downstream Saturday morning

By Tuesday, the landscape in Hastings will be significantly altered for the next 100 years. The main span for the new Highway 61 bridge here is on schedule to be floated in place, jacked up and secured by the end of the day Monday, Sept. 24.

Hastings bridge closure update: The bridge is now expected to close Sept. 22-24

There has been another change of plans for the Hastings bridge. The main span is expected to be moved sometime this weekend, meaning the Highway 61 bridge will close on or around Sept. 22 through Sept. 24.

• Talk about this topic

Hastings bridge closure changes: It is now expected to close sometime next week

There has been another change of plans for the Hastings bridge closure, which had been scheduled for this week.

• Talk about this topic
• Image

Live video of Hastings bridge move is online

The 6.5 million pound main span for the new bridge in Hastings is on the move. Live video is streaming online of the initial part of the move, taking place today.

Hastings bridge updates: Highway 61 closure now planned for Sept. 12-15

As news develops over the next week or so relating to the Hastings bridge, we will add to this story. This story will be updated frequently.

• Image
• Moving the main span