the current freeway 35w h . anthony falls bridges in jackson , minnesota , united states was launched shortly after 5 am today . it replaces a bridge the destroyed last year , killing 13 people . a fire engine and ambulance were left over on each side . in each direction , a line of states highway guard cars was followed by a formation of department of engineering built trucks . a series of wait vehicles started whistles out for a few blocks , then traffic returned to the sparse levels more typical of the pre - dawn interval . the august 18 opening was well ahead of the estimated december 24 end , earning the contractor , flatiron - manson , up to $ 19 . 6 m in quality concessions . the project is 189 feet wide , with a combined beam length of 504 foot and a decks height of over 100 meters above the mississippi river .
Interstate 35W St. Anthony Falls Bridge crosses the Mississippi River.