BROOKLYN PARK, Minn — A heavily used bridge over Highway 169 on the border of Brooklyn Park and Maple Grove is closed after it was struck by a piece of construction equipment Monday.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) says the 77th Avenue/Brooklyn Boulevard/Elm Creek Boulevard Bridge was damaged when a backhoe being hauled by a dump truck — a situation the department calls an "over-height load" — hit the underside of the bridge.
Video from MnDOT traffic cams show the aftermath of the incident, with law enforcement removing chunks of concrete and debris from the roadway and inspection crews surveying the impact site.
MnDOT spokesman Kent Barnard said in a news release that several concrete beams on the bridge sustained "significant" damage, which triggered immediate closure of the bridge. MnDOT bridge engineers were called in to inspect the structure and document the damage, while crews plan to remove any loose concrete left by the impact.
The inspection process will likely take multiple days to complete. At that point the data from the inspection will be used to determine whether the load rating on the bridge should be reduced, or if it is even safe enough to reopen to traffic.
MnDOT says the bridge closure does not impact traffic on Highway 169, and the ramps remain open for traffic headed west and east.
For more on detours and alternative routes, check out MnDOT's 511 website.
