Bridge Replacement On Highway 88 Starts August 7

A project to replace the bridge the crosses Burntside River west of Ely will begin on Monday, August 7.  The existing bridge on Highway 88 - which was constructed in 1938 - has reached the end of its serviceable life.

Work crews with St. Louis County will be replacing the older structure with a new, 105-foot concrete slab span bridge.  The new structure will allow for heavier vehicles to cross (the existing bridge had weight restrictions in place) and will include a heightened distance between the river and the bottom of the bridge;  this increased height will allow marine vehicles an easier path underneath and greater clearance.

The work will pause at the end of October, and will include some additional work in the spring of 2018.