Work starts to fix Highway 10 bridge after flood damage

An emergency order issued by the Minnesota Department of Transportation allowed work to start Saturday to repair the Highway 10 bridge over the Mississippi River in Little Falls.

Highway 10 in Little Falls was closed Thursday after strong currents caused by an ice jam eroded the earth supporting the bridge over the overflow channel of the Mississippi River. The bridge over the main channel wasn't damaged. Highway 10 is closed at Morrison County Road 113 and Morrison County Road 76.

The emergency order allowed MnDOT to direct Lunda Construction Company of Black River Falls, Wis., to immediately begin repair work, said Judy Jacobs, MnDOT communications specialist in Baxter.

On Saturday, the Lunda crew assembled equipment and removed an approach panel on the east side of the bridge. A MnDOT bridge crew installed a floating silt curtain to stop the erosion.

On Sunday, crews started installing sheet piling to shore up the bridge, and Jacobs said it is hoped Tri-City Paving would be hauling in material to re-establish the grade on Monday.

Jacobs said more about the damage to the overflow channel bridge will be known when the water drops, but so far it appears the erosion was more severe than originally estimated.

Jacobs also said there wasn't yet a date in place as to when the bridge will open.

"Our goal is to open the roadway to traffic as quickly as we can," Jacobs said. "At this point, it's a little premature to discuss actual timelines."

Currently, westbound Highway 10 traffic is being rerouted north along Highway 371 to Highway 115 at Camp Ripley, then west on Highway 115 to Highway 10 in Randall. Eastbound Highway 10 traffic is being routed at Randall to Highway 115, south on Highway 371 and back to Highway 10 in Little Falls.

MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.