MINNEAPOLIS - The St. Anthony Parkway Bridge, which is schedule to be replaced next year, was closed to all traffic on Friday night.
A recent inspection of the northeast Minneapolis bridge resulted in a three-ton load limit, but not all drivers were abiding by the restrictions. In response, the city has decided to close the bridge to all traffic until further notice.
The closure affects all motor vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian traffic.
"There was no warning and just got up here and road closed," said Jason Braunwarth, a bicyclist who was caught off guard.
The city said that pending further analysis the bridge could be reopened to bicycles and pedestrians in the coming weeks.
The 89-year-old truss bridge carries an average of around 4,200 vehicles a day more than two dozen tracks of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe rail yard, officials said.
The city is now in the process of replacing the entire bridge, with construction expected to begin in 2015 and reopen to traffic in late 2016.
Pedestrian traffic may be allowed pending further study. In the meantime, people who use the bridge frequently will have to find a different way home.
"There's so few to get across and over this way. This is very convenient for us. We live in Northeast," said Wanda Dollahan who was riding across the bridge with her husband David on their bikes.
