As Stone Arch Bridge glow-up makes progress in Minneapolis, east side to re-open

A switcheroo will take place next week on the Stone Arch Bridge as a major restoration of the historical structure hits the halfway point.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation will close the side of the bridge closest to downtown Minneapolis along with the portion of Portland Avenue below it.

At the same time, the eastern half of the bridge near St. Anthony Main and Father Hennepin Park, which closed in April, will reopen, allowing pedestrians, bicyclists and those who roll by other means to get to the middle of the bridge before having to turn around.

An official detour directs anybody needing to cross the full length of the bridge spanning the Mississippi River and St. Anthony Falls to the nearby 3rd Avenue bridge.

Over the past seven months, crews have been repairing and replacing worn stone, replacing the mortar on the entire bridge, and making other repairs as needed. Stone repair and mortar replacement will slow deterioration and improve the condition of the 140-year-old bridge, said MnDOT spokesman Jesse Johnson.

Work on the $38.5 million project will continue through the winter, Johnson said, with crews removing more stone and failing mortar and sawing joints.

“This work is in preparation for work next spring when the weather is warmer, which includes veneer replacement and tuckpointing,” Johnson said.

By working through the coldest months, the project will stay on schedule, Johnson said. That means the entire bridge will reopen to pedestrians and bicyclists by fall 2025. Some work on the bridge will continue into 2026.

Railroad magnate James J. Hill commissioned engineer Charles C. Smith to design the Stone Arch Bridge, which resulted in the 2,100-foot long structure with 23 arches and an 817-foot, six-degree curve on the west end. The landmark bridge built between 1881 and 1883 cost about $650,000, or more than $16.5 million in today’s dollars.

The last trains crossed the Stone Arch in 1978. The Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority bought the bridge in 1989. Ownership was transferred to MnDOT in 1992.

Hwy. 47 improvement meetings scheduled

Just like housework, road construction is never done. And neither is planning for it.

MnDOT is looking to redo a long stretch of University Avenue — also known as Hwy. 47 — from 37th Avenue NE. in Columbia Heights to 85th Avenue in Blaine in 2030.

This week, the agency will hold another round of meetings to solicit public input that will be used to shape ideas for remaking the heavily traveled corridor. In sessions this fall, people who use the road said speeding and driver behavior have created safety concerns. They also told MnDOT that unmarked crossings presented a danger to pedestrians, the agency said.

Stakeholders also suggested multi-lane roundabouts could be incorporated into the project to improve traffic flow and overall safety, and they would like to see grade-separated interchanges on the northern section of the highway.

MnDOT said it will coordinate its work with Metro Transit, which in 2028 plans to begin construction on stations for the F Line, a rapid bus route from downtown Minneapolis to Northtown Mall.

Meetings will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Fridley City Hall, 7071 University Av. NE., and from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday in the Northtown Mall food court. There won’t be a formal presentation at either meeting, but project staff will show its analysis and the input it has received so far.

An online meeting will be held at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 13.