The Minnesota Department of Transportation will host a public meeting on Thursday to discuss the Highway 43 interstate bridge project.  The session will run from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. and will be held at the Winona National Guard Armory along Homer Road near Minnesota State College--Southeast Tech.
                   
Representatives from Mn-DOT will be on hand to answer questions and provide information about their recommendation to construct a new two-lane bridge parallel to the existing Highway 43 bridge which will be rehabbed.  The public will be allowed to offer the their input on the proposal.
                  
The current timeline has Mn-DOT purchasing right-of-way for the new span during 2014 with actual construction earmarked to start in 2015.  Mn-DOT officials said the entire project...including the rehab of the existing bridge...is expected to take three years.