Mechanical Issue Closes Minnesota Slip Bridge For Repairs

DULUTH, Minn. — A very important connection between Canal Park and the DECC has been temporarily shut down because of mechanical issues.

We’re talking about the Minnesota Slip Bridge, which is also known to many locals as the “little blue bridge.”

A city spokesperson says a brake on the bridge is not releasing properly.

The bridge was pinned up Sunday.

Crews will be on site Monday to evaluate the issue.

The Slip Bridge has had mechanical issues and closures ever since it opened in the early 1990s — sometimes being closed for weeks at a time.

A few years back, the city made a multi-million dollar investment to overhaul the bridge to avoid frequent closures, which has held true with minimal closures.

Roughly 600,000 people cross the Slip Bridge every year giving quick pedestrian access between Canal Park, the DECC and Bayfront Park.

When the bridge is not working, the alternate route is a long sidewalk around the William A. Irvin in the Minnesota Slip to get to the other side.