HASTINGS, MN- - Traffic on the Highway 61 Bridge over the

Mississippi River will be reduced to one lane at all times and will

stay that way until mid-July.

Work crews will be performing maintenance work and painting the

bridge after the scheduled reduction of lanes starting at 10 p.m.

Sunday. The Minnesota Department of Transportation says traffic

delays could be significant.

About 32,000 cars cross the Hastings bridge everyday.

MnDOT has announced it will replace the bridge in 2010.

As a result the agency decided to reduce the amount of maintenance and

painting this year. Officials say they're doing the work needed to

keep the bridge safe and in good repair until it's replaced.