Accessibility menu
State Representative Joe Atkins
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4192
For more information contact:
Press/News Releases
Rep. Joe Atkins Concerned About Delay of New Lafayette Bridge Construction
St. Paul, Minnesota — With the existing Lafayette Bridge rated lower by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) than the 35W bridge was just before it collapsed, state Representative Joe Atkins (DFL – Inver Grove Heights) is concerned that the project is already behind schedule.
'I was following up on a question from a constituent and I learned the new Lafayette Bridge construction has been delayed, leaving the old bridge in place even longer,” said Rep. Atkins. “Why? Because the steel fabricator did not start fabrication of the steel box girders on the original schedule.”
Atkins said a MnDOT official confirmed for him that the Lafayette Bridge construction was delayed to the steel fabrication issue.
Atkins has written to Commissioner Tom Sorel of the Minnesota Department of Transportation, asking him to keep the project on schedule.
In his letter, Atkins wrote, "A lot of my constituents are concerned about the safety of the bridge. They know the Lafayette Bridge is rated lower by MnDOT than the I-35W Bridge was just before it collapsed. The traffic delays caused by the construction are also causing significant inconvenience and economic losses to workers and the business community, and we obviously ought to be doing all we can to get the Lafayette Bridge as soon as possible."
Atkins isn't new to bridge issues. When the Wakota Bridge in South St. Paul was delayed for years, the House Commerce Committee, which was chaired by Atkins at the time, held hearings to press for completion of the span.
News Items
- Governor Dayton Signs Nurse Staffing Disclosure and Study Legislation - (Posted: May 10 2013 4:37PM)
- Minnesota House Passes Conference Committee Report on Bill Banning BPA in Children’s Food Containers - (Posted: May 10 2013 4:37PM)
- Governor Dayton Signs New Law Aimed at Protecting Minnesota Seniors from Wire Transfer Fraud - (Posted: May 10 2013 3:19PM)
- Archived News Items
- Subscribe to RSS News Feeds
- Read more about RSS.