Federal grant for MnDOT project in peril

According to today's Finance & Commerce, the government shutdown is making it difficult for MnDOT to get a $2 million federal grant for a St. Paul bridge replacement project.

The Maryland Avenue project qualified for the U.S. DOT's grant which is part of a $417.3 million funding package encouraging innovative bridge materials and construction methods. MnDOT planned to build the bridge's superstructure offsite and lift it into place. Due to the shutdown and because extra planning time is required, the bridge project is falling behind schedule.