Per the MN DOT, the Highway 43 bridge over the Mississippi River in Winona is going to re-open.

But, mysteriously, they’re not allowing bicycles. Per the Star-Tribune:

Judy Bodway, assistant city manager for economic development, said state transportation officials decided that the bridge will reopen Saturday at 8 a.m. to passenger vehicles but not commercial trucks, pedestrians or bicycles. Also, no vehicles can be pulling trailers, even to transport boats.

This does include pickups. It would kind of have to in that area, else the reopening to traffic would be laughable. Everyone and their dog owns a pickup down there, it seems.

Because, yeah, those pedestrians and bicycles? The straw that will break the gusset plate’s back!

They do claim the continued closure to pedestrians and bicyclists is because that part of the bridge needs repair. Uh, what? This can’t just be the gusset plates, which means it probably needed it before the closure, huh?

Bodway said the bicycle and pedestrian traffic remains banned because improvements are needed on that part of the bridge.

MNDOT and Winona are looking for options for pedestrians and bicyclists, although the ferry service will end June 20. Beyond the gusset plate work, they plan to replace the sidewalks.

Which still doesn’t explain to me the bicycle ban, since sidewalks are for pedestrians. But, whatever. I don’t know what enforcement is going to be in place and plan to check it out later this month when I’m in Winona to scout WOW routes.

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Author: julie

Julie Kosbab is an online marketing consultant and active transportation advocate living in Anoka County, Minnesota. She was one of Minnesota's only League of American Bicyclists Certified Instructors when certified in 2005. She is a past member of the National Bicycle Tour Directors Association. She has 2 children and 4 bicycles. Find her on Twitter as @betweenstations.