Mississippi River Bridges Lights

Drivers crossing several Mississippi River bridges in southeast Minnesota may notice things are a little darker than usual.

MnDOT is temporarily turning off overhead lights on the Highway 63 bridge in Red Wing, the Highway 60 bridge in Wabasha, and the Highway 43 bridge in Winona to reduce the impact of annual mayfly hatches.

The insects are attracted to light and can swarm bridge surfaces, creating slippery and potentially hazardous driving conditions.

The lights will remain off until the hatch subsides, which can last for several weeks.

As in previous years, the lights on the Interstate 90 Dresbach bridge to cross into Wisconsin near La Crosse, Wis., will remain on due to its Interstate highway speeds, traffic volumes, and complexity of the interchange.

Motorists are urged to slow down and stay alert when crossing the bridges.