The Minnesota Slip Bridge returned to normal operations on Thursday, a day after it was knocked out of service by mechanical problems.
The city of Duluth reported Thursday that a contractor replaced the cables, after high winds earlier in the week caused a bridge cable to uncoil from its spool. The bridge, which has been plagued by breakdowns since it opened in 1991, was left in the "up" position until repairs were made.
The blue pedestrian bridge is an important link between Canal Park and the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center, and the city reported Thursday that it will have Lakehead Constructors on call in case of any problems during upcoming major events, such as next month's tall ships festival.
The city has contracted with an engineering firm to design a retrofit for the bridge's machinery, for a long-term solution to the problems. The design work is slated to be completed later this year, with the retrofit possibly taking place this winter.
