Minneapolis' New Interstate 35W Bridge Opened Today

It was projected to open at Christmas, but today, three months early, the St. Anthony Falls Bridge opened to traffic. The bridge is the replacement for the Interstate 35W bridge that collapsed into the Mississippi River on August 1 2007, with the loss of 13 lives.

A procession of fire trucks, ambulances, squad cars, and Minnesota Department of Transportation maintenance trucks were the first to cross just after 5 a.m. this morning. They were followed by private cars, buses and motorcycles. Hundreds of people got out of bed early to be amongst the first to cross the new bridge.

The new bridge has drawn some criticism for not fitting in with the surrounding landscape, especially the historic mill district and the river. My opinion is that it's a modern freeway bridge, and it's not going to blend in with 19th century mill workings, no matter how sympathetically it's designed.

Have you driven over the new I-35W bridge yet? Are you planning to make a special trip to drive over the bridge, even if it's not on your normal commute?