Two of the three voices that represent Winona is Washington say they support the city's goal of building a new bridge across the Mississippi...but Al Franken says rehabilitation of the current span alone may be adequate.

In response to request from Winona Radio Senators Franken and Amy Klobuchar, along with First District Congressman Tim Walz, all stress the importance of the bridge to the region's economy.  But Klobuchar and Walz hace come out squarly in support of City Hall's support for construction of at least two new traffic lanes across the river.

Walz says that Winona needs a "four lane fix that will meet the needs of citizens and businesses in Winona."  Klobuchar says "Winona needs a new bridge."  Franken, however, would only say that he supports "rehabilitating or replacing the Winona Mississippi River bridge."

The city of Winona is lobbying for either a new four lane crossing for Highway 43, or the construction of a second two lane bridge that would parallel the exisiting span.  So far, MnDOT says their studies favor rehabilitating the existing span with no additional construction.