Pre-construction for Minneapolis' Stone Arch Bridge began in January. Now, on April 15, a portion of the structure will remain closed until spring 2025 for construction.
Construction will begin at 5 a.m. on April 15.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) will begin making preservation repairs, causing a partial closure of the bridge.
Crews will repair and replace stone and mortar to help slow the bridge's deterioration, according to MnDOT. Other repairs will be made as needed.
People can use the protected pathways on Highway 65-Third Avenue Bridge to cross the river. The downtown side of the Stone Arch Bridge will remain open until spring 2025 for pedestrians and bicyclists.
MnDOT says pedestrians wanting to cross the river can bypass the closure by using the protected pathways on the Third Avenue Bridge, which reopened last October after more than three years of construction.
Work on the downtown side of the bridge will start in spring 2025 and is expected to last through fall 2025.
Construction is expected to be complete by spring 2026.
The Stone Arch Bridge was originally built in the 1880s, and Minnesota is taking on the repairs to keep it from deteriorating further. The 141-year-old bridge hasn't undergone repairs since the mid-90s when it was converted into a pedestrian bridge.
MnDOT estimates the project's total cost at about $26 million.
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Source: Fox News, CBS
