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A wooden beam that supports half of a bridge over Carlos Avery Wildlife Area pools, on County Road 36, is unsafe and needs to be replaced. Traffic control signs and cones have been placed where traffic approaches the bridge, directing vehicles to take turns and to use only one bridge lane.

Chisago County Engineer Bill Malin said the timber pile cap-- a wooden beam that runs the length of the small bridge-- has rotted. The bridge is only a few feet above the water and looks in good shape, until you get closely view the southside where timber damage has become acute.

Malin estimates repairs will be less than $50,000 (bid minimum) and was contacting contractors early this week who could supply quotes to do the project. The work would take three-days or less, he added. If County Road 36 between Stacy and Chisago City is not a necessary route for you-- it would be helpful if traffic could avoid this stretch while the bridge project is underway.

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