The project will reduce flooding, preserve pavement and improve safety on a busy 9-mile stretch of Highway 169 between Mankato and St. Peter.

St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman is asking state legislators to approve $48 million in bonding in the 2016 session.

Work will “continue into 2017;” MnDOT is blaming project complexities for the delay.

Resurfacing work is expected to wrap up soon on the busy interstate.

The timing of the project is critical because of endangered bats in area.

MnDOT says the estimated $20 million project will close the two-lane bridge for an entire season.

The high cost of carrying the work forced the Hudson, Wisconsin-based business to leave the $626 million project midway through its contract.

In the first six months of fiscal year 2015, MnDOT’s participation rate of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises on projects was 6.1 percent, well short of the current 10.3 percent goal.

Costs of the July 2011 shutdown may go higher still, as MnDOT is still negotiating with an handful of contractors.

MnDOT's own report shows it fell short of federally required goals for participation of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises during the first half of federal fiscal year 2015.