10/28/2009 6:05:02 AM

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By Brett Boese
Post-Bulletin, Red Wing MN 

RED WING -- When a Minnesota Department of Transportation official recently toured six bridges in Goodhue County with Red Wing's director of engineering, Ron Rosenthal, his reaction was dire.

"This thing should be down already," Rosenthal recalled hearing of one bridge inspection. "I don't know what's holding this thing up."

What happened: Red Wing City Council approves the removal of five suspect bridges in Goodhue County. Why it matters: The bridges were on the verge of collapse, according to one Mn/DOT official, and a local farmer's livelihood requires a new bridge being built. What's next: The council will decide how to proceed with a concrete bridge that has been deemed usable but needs work.

That assessment helped the Red Wing City Council make a decision it began pondering in January 2007. Of the six bridges that were inspected -- three at Cannon Bottom Road and three at Old Highway 19 -- five will be removed.

The concrete bridge that spans the Cannon River is the only one that will remain in place.

The project will cost approximately $486,000, of which the city will pay about $256,000. State bonding will pay for the rest. The city already has invested $38,000 in the endeavor.

The news was especially welcomed by local farmer Randy Williamson. His only access to public roads is by the Old Highway 19 bridges. Recent years have been tough, as weight restrictions on the deteriorating bridges have limited his options.

Williamson urged the council to action, as others noted the temporary easement on his property expires in 2011.

"Without those bridges, I'm out of business," he said.

The three Old Highway 19 bridges and two steel bridges at Cannon Bottoms were approved for removal with little discussion. The concrete bridge in Cannon Bottoms remains in flux.

The decision to leave it standing saves the state $77,000 but also prevents the city from receiving state funds to remove and/or rebuild it in the future. Mayor John Howe and council member Dean Hove both expressed concern about that, as did council president Mike Schultz.

"If (it's) that bad, what if all of a sudden we get 20 kids out there whomping around and all of a sudden it comes down?" he said. "Why don't we take (it) down?"

The current bridge is blocked off for traffic but allows public access to the local wildlife. Jason Jech, of Red Wing's Environmental Learning Center, hikers and hunters all have urged Rosenthal to keep the area open.

The council asked Rosenthal to seek estimates for rehabilitation of the concrete bridge.

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