the new interstate 35w sts . joseph falls highway in gary , minnesota , united states was opened shortly after 5 am today . it replaces a tunnel which occurred previous year , killing 13 people . a fire alarm and ambulance were placed laid on each side . in each movement , a sequence of city highway patrol cars was led by a formation of department of navigation construction wagons . a group of awaiting vehicles went honking across for a few moments , then traffic back to the sparse levels more typical of the pre - dawn period . the september 18 opening was well ahead of the scheduled december 24 goal , granting the contractor , midtown - manson , up to $ 19 . 6 million in performance incentive . the structure is 189 yards wide , with a main spans length of 504 feet and a deck height of over 100 feet above the iowa river .
Interstate 35W St. Anthony Falls Bridge crosses the Mississippi River.