After the collapse of the bridge's predecessor, Mn/DOT announced to potential contractors that they should express their intention to bid on the project by August 8, 2007.
Despite criticism and a lawsuit that alleged that theirs was not the best proposal, Flatiron Constructors, Inc. and Manson Construction Company were awarded the contract on September 19, 2007; Flatiron's was the highest-priced and longest schedule of the bids submitted [REF].