Busy Minnesota Bridge Partially Closed Until 2026
It's common knowledge that Minnesota has two seasons: winter and construction. Winter can be unpredictable, but construction season historically runs from April through November.
Several projects have already started or been announced including a major $38 million road construction job in July. You can see more projects scheduled for this summer here and keep reading to learn about the busy bridge that will be partially closed through 2026.
According to KROC News, The Minnesota Department of Transportation says a temporary closure will impact a portion of Interstate 35W in the middle of April.
This project shouldn't take long. They will start at 9 p.m. on Monday, April 15, and will close Interstate 35W in both directions at the I-35W/I-494 interchange in Bloomington/Richfield overnight with work expected to be completed by 5:00 a.m. Repair work on a 2,100-foot bridge built in the 1880s will take a lot longer.
Busy Minnesota Bridge Partially Closed Until 2026
Starting next week, the historic Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis will be partially closed to pedestrians and bicyclists.
MnDOT says, "During construction, pedestrians and bicyclists will not be able to cross the full length of the bridge. Crews will close half of the bridge at a time during construction, allowing people to walk or bike to the middle of the bridge and turn around at the closure."
The closure will start on Monday, April 15 at 5:00 a.m. from the St. Anthony Main side until spring 2025. Then the downtown side of the bridge will close for repairs. MnDOT anticipates that construction will be finished by spring 2026.
A MnDOT spokesperson told Bring Me The News, "Crews will repair and replace stone, replace the mortar on the entire bridge, and make other repairs as needed. Stone repair and mortar replacement will slow deterioration and improve the condition of the bridge."
The 14 Smallest Towns in All of Minnesota
Gallery Credit: Samm Adams