Between 2019-2020 the City of Minneapolis will be reconstructing the 28th Ave S bridge crossing Minnehaha Creek in South Minneapolis.
Project status
Completed.
Details
As of June 19, 2020, construction on the 28th Avenue S bridge is complete and has reopened to all traffic.
Project limits
The bridge is located at 28th Ave S crossing Minnehaha Creek in the Nokomis-Hiawatha Regional Park in south Minneapolis. The project limits will extend to include the approach roadways north and south of the bridge.
Construction schedule
Construction began July 15, 2019 and took just under a year to complete. The bridge reopened to traffic on June 19, 2020.
Construction was initially scheduled to be undertaken in 2017, however, working within the Minnehaha Creek Watershed was required to obtain an Army Corps of Engineers permit. The process of obtaining the permit started in December 2015 and took longer than originally anticipated.
Traffic impact
28th Avenue S traffic will be closed to all traffic modes during construction. See the project Detour Routes Map.
Two community meetings were held in May 2018 to get feedback from the community. Staff attended an October 2018 Standish Erickson Neighborhood Association Board meeting to share proposed railing options.
The existing bridge is a concrete arch bridge that was constructed in 1904. The arch has a clear span of 25 feet and rise of 7 feet. A multiuse Regional Park trail crosses 28th Avenue immediately north of the bridge on a skewed alignment. This trail is a component of the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway which has been nominated for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places.
When originally constructed, the bridge had a concrete railing and pedestrians & vehicles shared the roadway (see Figure 1). In the 1920s, sidewalks and metal railings were added. The sidewalks were cantilevered ~ 3.5 feet beyond the bridge spandrel walls. This provided the current ~4.5 foot sidewalks and moved pedestrians away from vehicular traffic (see Figure 2).
The primary purpose of the project is to provide a structurally-sound crossing over Minnehaha Creek for motorized and non-motorized users; and to provide a Grand Rounds trail crossing under 28th Avenue South for non-motorized users. The bridge needs to be reconstructed in order to accomplish this. The intent is also to continue to provide one vehicular traffic lane in each direction and wider sidewalks across the bridge.
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Work on the 28th Ave Bridge replacement has been halted for the winter until weather conditions permit construction to resume. Beam placement and sewer work continued through December 2019 the work site is now shut down for the winter. Work is expected to resume in the Spring of 2020.
A temporary pedestrian and bike crossing has been installed for use during the winter until construction on the project can restart. Crews will ensure that the crossing, which includes rails, traffic control and temporary lighting, is clear of snow during this time.
Construction of the bridge is anticipated to get back underway in the Spring of 2020 and the road is expected to be reopened by July 1, 2020.
We appreciate your patience as we rebuild the historic 28th Ave bridge. We know that this work can be disruptive and we are doing our best to minimize these impacts.
This summer, the old deteriorating bridge was demolished, as well as the roads approaching the bridge. Work has also been done to replace the storm sewer and water main, and the bridge foundations and outside framework have been completed.
The reconstruction of the 28th Ave Bridge across Minnehaha Creek continues to progress, but there are challenges that have delayed the original project schedule. Record rainfall, an unexpected water main break, extra coordination with utilities and the early onset of freezing weather have contributed to delays.
Bridge beam placement and sewer work will continue through late December 2019 and then construction on the site will be shut down until work can resume in the Spring of 2020. Over winter, crews will install a temporary sidewalk over the creek and will ensure that pedestrian and bike access are maintained across 28th Ave. Additionally, temporary lights, winter maintenance activities and traffic control will be in place during the winter season. Crews will resume construction of the bridge in the Spring of 2020 and the road is expected to be reopened by July 1, 2020.
