The Metropolitan Council has decided not to award a nearly $100 million contract to URS Corp. Instead, the Star Tribune reports the agency divided engineering work for the $1.25 billion Southwest Corridor light-rail line into four separate contracts. San Francisco-based URS will still be allowed to bid on the smaller contracts, despite its involvement with the Sabo pedestrian bridge and the Interstate 35W bridge before it collapsed in August 2007.

A Central Corridor light rail construction worker lost his hand and foot after heavy machinery rolled over on him Tuesday. The worker for contractor Ames Construction was working on an overpass near I-35W when the mobile lift he was in toppled over.

Property owners along the Central Corridor light rail line expected business disruptions during the construction, but now some say the work is physically damaging their buildings. But the Metropolitan Council and its contractor say cracks in foundations and facades of the old buildings are not necessarily the result of construction work.

The Gateway Corridor Commission says there isn't enough space on the Interstate 94 bridge overlooking the St. Croix River for a light rail transit crossing.

A health impact assessment (HIA) says the project to connect Minneapolis and St. Paul via light rail could potentially displace low income families near the corridor as rent rates climb. But added the long-term benefits include greater access to employment and medical facilities

Cravaack says the federal government needs to fix its aging roadways before spending money on rail transportation. The Northern Lights Express project was recently awarded a $5 million federal grant to put together a development plan.

The bridge will close at 10 p.m. Friday because of light rail construction. The closure will last throughout the weekend. Officials said the bridge is expected to be reopened by 5 a.m. Monday, in time for the morning commute.