Bridge opens sooner than expected

Traffic resumed today over the Milk River on U.S. Highway 2 between Havre and Chinook when a temporary bridge opened at 9 a.m.

The new structure was in place just 16 days after the bridge collapsed during an accident involving two tractor-trailers. State officials had rushed to reopen the 5-mile section of highway that was closed as a result, and end a detour over a series of gravel roads.

Within a week of the Nov. 18 collapse, MDT awarded a contract to Tamietti Construction Co. of Great Falls to build a temporary bridge over the river. Nine days after construction started, the bridge was fini...