Feasibility Study and Concept Planning for Non-Vehicular Bridge Over the Mississippi River This project will determine feasibility and develop a preferred concept for a new non-vehicular recreational bridge over the Mississippi River within Above the Falls Regional Park

Milestones (anticipated project schedule by month/season)

Feasibility Study – Fall-Winter 2023-2024

Schematic Design – Winter-Spring 2024

Concept Approval by Board of Commissioners – Summer 2024

Background

For some time, the MPRB and other partner organizations have desired to cross the Mississippi River between North and Northeast Minneapolis, filling a gap in the MPRB regional trail system. Currently, the Lowry Avenue Bridge and the Plymouth Avenue Bridge are the only bicycle and pedestrian-friendly crossings of the Mississippi River upstream of Nicollet Island in Minneapolis. However, other non-MPRB facilities bring pedestrians and bicyclists to the river but fail to connect North and North Minneapolis across the river. The City of Minneapolis constructed pedestrian and bicycle facilities along 26th Avenue North between Theodore Wirth Regional Park and the 26th Avenue North Overlook. Another pedestrian and bicycle facility extends from the city’s east boundary to the riverfront, generally following 18^th Avenue NE. This project seeks to explore the possibilities of connecting the two trail segments with a new non-motorized crossing of the Mississippi River.

The MPRB owns 1720 Marshall Street Northeast on the east bank of the river within Above the Falls Regional Park. The riverfront site has a derelict two-story brick building requiring demolition and terraced parking lots that step down towards the river. Plans for the site to become a maintenance facility for 2nd District parks had been created, but never implemented. It is assumed the bridge’s eastern end would land at this site.

The MPRB currently has an easement with the City of Minneapolis (City) to operate a park at the terminus of 26th Avenue North. The 26th Avenue North Overlook is a new space that introduces north side residents and trail users to the river. The neighborhood has been cut off from the riverfront by I-94 and industrial uses and does not benefit from access to the river and natural spaces like many other areas of the city. The MPRB and Continental Cement have agreed to a riverfront easement just south of the Overlook. This easement allows for a trail to follow the river south to Ole Olson Park and connect to the MPRB regional trail system and downtown Minneapolis.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway owns a bridge about 500-feet south of the Overlook. Planning efforts of both the MPRB and City identify the BNSF bridge as the structure on which a trail would be created to cross the river. This bridge is thought of as a potential crossing structure that would include a multi-use trail on its southern half, while retaining the active rail on its northern half. The bridge is used by one customer, Continental Cement, to deliver daily loads of Portland cement, which is then transferred to trucks for distribution throughout the metro area. BNSF has expressed no desire for the bridge to convey a trail over the river alongside its freight rail line. The MPRB’s ability to advance a trail on this bridge relies entirely on BNSF’s willingness to support at trail across it, whereas the bridge that is the focus of this project would provide an alternative that gives the MPRB an opportunity to advance a crossing on its schedule. This alternative bridge location would align with the City and MPRB previous planning efforts.

This bridge project will investigate the feasibility of a new bridge crossing the Mississippi River aligned with existing and proposed non-motorized corridors in North and Northeast Minneapolis. Once feasibility is determined, the MPRB will start a conceptual design process with the engagement directed to communities on either side of the river and interactions with federal, state, and local agencies having jurisdiction over the river and a potential bridge crossing. This process will be the same as other MPRB concept development processes. A community engagement assessment and plan will be drafted, discussed with stakeholders, and included in the public record.

A new bridge over the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities has not been constructed since the 1960s when the Interstate Highway System was built. These same highways have cut through our neighborhoods severing community members from each other and our natural resources including the Mississippi River. This bridge is a way to break through those barriers and create physical and social connectivity along and over the Mississippi River.

Funding 

Regional Parks Grant – $300,000