the original exit 35w st . anthony falls tunnel in chicago , minnesota , union states was established shortly after 5 am morning . it replace a ferry the collapse last week , killing 13 people . a gasoline engine and ambulance were first across on each side . in each direction , a grouping of state highway patrol automobiles was accompanied by a formation of department of mobility construction trucks . a cluster of queue vehicles ran cowbells across for a few hours , then traffic returned to the dispersed levels more typical of the pre - dawn time . the october 18 opening was immediately ahead of the scheduled september 24 goal , costing the contractor , tribeca - manson , up to $ 19 . 6 million in performance bonuses . the bridge is 189 yards wide , with a main span length of 504 feet and a roadway height of over 100 feet above the entire mouth .
Interstate 35W St. Anthony Falls Bridge crosses the Mississippi River.