How to go about it. Possibilities being explored. Removal will come first. Later a design phase and, years away, a replacement phase. immediately downstream is the dam, which unleashed tons of sediment and phosphorous, nitrogen and other contaminants when breached in June
Obstacle is river contamination from debris
MANKATO, Minn. – Demotion has begun on the 230-foot bridge just upstream from the Rapidan Dam that a flood took out in June. The bridge remained standing, but its concrete pillars were structurally damaged and rendered unsafe. Removing bridge is no small task The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is concerned that contamination from sediment, phosphorus and nitrogen from the dam’s collapse could be worsened by ripping out the bridge. At issue is water downstream at Mankato and the Minnesota River to Minneapolis. Water clarity this fall still hasn’t returned to normal since the dam break. The bridge demolition now under way is tackling only what can be trucked away. Engineers and environmentalists are at work on phasing later stages. The project, estimate at $18 million, is expected to take years. Meanwhile, barricades at the bridge block County Road 9, which once was sone of the busiest rural commuter roads in the state. Without the bridge, farmers are detour as much two hours to cross the Blue Earth River.
Earlier: Flood-ruined Rapidan dam, bridge to be razed