The cityscape of Minneapolis is set for transformative changes with the Nicollet Ave. bridge, a historic structure in dire need of repair, receiving a $34 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration revealed in an announcement earlier this week. Mayor Jacob Frey emphasized the bridge's role in the community, envisaging the upgrade to include new bike lanes, wider sidewalks, future bus rapid transit accommodations, and enhanced safety features, in a statement obtained by the City of Minneapolis.
Planning and reviews will unfold over the coming months with the bridge closure scheduled for 2026; construction will focus on repairing the arches, cracks, and general concrete deterioration while replacing the floor beams, deck, railings, drainage system, sidewalks, and lighting by 2028, the projected year of completion. The bridge, a key artery built in 1923, withstanding the elements and the passage of time, last rehabilitated in 1973, has reached a juncture wherein the funds will ensure its continued function, serving nearly 9,000 trips daily, as City Operations Officer Margaret Anderson Kelliher detailed the risks of delaying the much-needed refurbishment and the potential closure by 2030 in a statement obtained by the City of Minneapolis.
Marked by a National Bridge Inventory (NBI) rating of 4, signaling its "poor" condition, the bridge's restoration forms the final chapter in the city's narrative of revitalizing its quartet of historic open concrete arched bridges from the early 20th century. Its companions – the Franklin Ave., 10th Ave. and 3rd Ave. over the Mississippi River – have preceded it in receiving much-needed rehabilitation. The total cost for Nicollet Ave. bridge's renewal is estimated at $55.2 million, with local and state funds expected to bolster the federal grant to meet project expenses, according to the city's news release.
Minnesota's Congressional leaders lauded the federal grant award as a critical investment supporting community and infrastructure. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) affirmed the bridge's historic connection between Minneapolis and Bloomington, Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) highlighted the necessity of the project for daily commuters across various modes of transportation and spoke about the enhanced bike and pedestrian pathways, and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) celebrated the collaborative local, state, and federal government effort that brought the project to fruition, all reinforcing the sense that despite climate change challenges, such investments are forging a more resilient future for the city's infrastructure, each of them told the City of Minneapolis in their respective statements.
