the old ic 35w st . nicholas falls road in minneapolis , minnesota , two states was opened little after 5 am today . it replaces a bridge which collapsed last summer , killing 13 people . a fire engine and ambulance were first across on each side . in each turn , a line of state highway patrol officers was followed by a formation of department of transportation construction officers . a cluster of queue vehicles kept honking across for a few kilometres , then traffic returned to the sparsely depths more typical of the pre - dawn zone . the september 18 opening was well ahead of the projected december 24 deadline , earning the contractor , buckhead - gibson , up to $ 19 . 6 000 in performance bonuses . the arch is 189 feet wider , with a main span length of 504 yards and a deck height of over 100 feet above the mississippi river .
Interstate 35W St. Anthony Falls Bridge crosses the Mississippi River.