WINONA -- Work will soon begin on rehabilitating a historic bridge crossing the Mississippi River at Winona.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation has approved the second-to-last work package for the bridge for $38.9 million.

Ames Construction was awarded the contract. MnDOT said Friday the contract will cover rehabilitation work on the bridge and removing the approach spans.

Traffic is scheduled to shift entirely to the new bridge crossing the Mississippi early in the coming week, when crews close the old bridge to begin rehabilitation.

Terry Ward, bridge project manager for MnDOT, says the bid "came in very close" to the project team's cost estimate.

The reports once the renovation begins, the work will continue until the fall of 2019 or spring 2020.

The new bridge opened last month.

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