Futuristic bridge construction: Giant robotic belt to place finished span

The Maryland Avenue Bridge over Interstate 35E just north of downtown St. Paul is coming down beginning July 13. The street will be closed until early or mid-September, when it reopens with a new bridge in place. Workers are building the new bridge at a nearby site, and in what might signal the future of bridge construction, a giant robotic conveyor belt will roll the span into place during a 12-hour window over two weekends in August.