Major changes are coming to downtown Saint Paul as the city prepares to close the Kellogg-3rd Street Bridge for a three-year reconstruction project beginning July 29. The bridge, which serves as a crucial artery connecting the East Side to the city's core, will undergo a complete overhaul with a budget of roughly $91 million. This significant investment comes from a combination of state bonding, federal regional solicitation grants, and local contributions.
The decision to reconstruct was spurred in 2014, when a structural analysis highlighted the dire state of the bridge, leading to immediate traffic lane and sidewalk width reductions for safety. After years of planning, which included public input on aesthetic aspects, the city is ready to embark on its largest infrastructure project since 1995. “After nearly a decade, we are excited to get this bridge project underway thanks to the financial support from our local, state, and federal leaders,” Sean Kershaw, Director of Saint Paul Public Works, told the community.
According to an announcement on the city's project webpage, the new bridge design includes four lanes of vehicular traffic, with two lanes in each direction and a barrier-separated trail for bikes and pedestrians on both sides. These trails will measure 12 feet in width and protect non-vehicular traffic with a concrete barrier. Furthermore, the design showcases artist-crafted ornamental railings, and piers and intersections at Union Depot and Mounds Boulevard will see changes to improve accessibility and safety.
The bridge's closure is anticipated to place additional strain on regional traffic, with detours redirecting vehicles to East 7th Street. While adjustments and delays are inevitable, Saint Paul assures that access to Lowertown businesses, parking areas, and Union Depot will be maintained throughout construction. With its span over I-94 and one of the Midwest's busiest railroad junctions, the bridge's importance to the urban landscape cannot be overstated, and likewise its historical significance as a site within the Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary — recently claimed as sacred to the Dakota as Wakan Tipi.
In homage to the bridge's service and as a gesture of farewell, Dayton's Bluff District Council is hosting "Goodbye Bridge Walk" on July 21. The public is invited to traverse the bridge from 1-3 p.m., starting at the Eagles Club or at the intersection of Lafayette Street and Kellogg Boulevard. Saint Paul Public Works will also provide tables with information regarding the project at both ends. For further inquiries, Lisa Hiebert, APR of Saint Paul Public Works can be reached at [email protected].
