The Mississippi River crossing on Highway 61 in Hastings will be closed from Wednesday through Friday of this coming week.

The bridge had originally been slated for closure this weekend.  That's now been delayed.  The bridge will be closed with the center arch of the new Hastings bridge is floated into place.  The new bridge is expected to open in the spring.

The current Hastings bridge is considered fracture critical...a condition that led to the collapse of the Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis five years ago.  it's the same reason that the current Winona bridge is being rehabilitated.  A new adjacent two lane bridge is also planned.  Construction is expected to begin in 2015.