MnDOT invites the public to a Third Avenue bridge reopening celebration on October 28
Bridge tentatively scheduled to reopen following the celebration event
ROSEVILLE, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Transportation is hosting a community celebration to commemorate the reopening of the Third Ave. Bridge on Sat. Oct. 28.
What: Third Avenue Bridge Reopening Community Celebration
When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023
Where: Bridge approach in St. Anthony Main, near Second Street SE
This family-friendly event is free and open to the public. The event will begin with a welcome message from MnDOT. Then attendees are encouraged to enjoy music, artist-led pumpkin painting, neighborhood-hosted activities, free children’s books, lawn games, and an up-close experience with construction vehicles. A food truck and other treats will also be on site.
The new 13-foot-wide pathways on both the upstream and downstream sides of the bridge will be open to pedestrians and bicyclists for the event.
The historic Third Avenue Bridge over the Mississippi River near St. Anthony Falls, which opened in 1918, is undergoing major repairs.
Construction began in May 2020 and is anticipated to be completed at the end of October 2023. The work includes renovating the Third Avenue Bridge while preserving and enhancing its historic and artistic features, improving area safety and accessibility, and upgrading walking and bicycling facilities on and approaching the bridge.
The Third Avenue Bridge has been fully closed since January 2021 to allow construction crews to complete rehabilitation and preservation work. It was originally scheduled to partially reopen to traffic in fall 2022.
However, additional, necessary concrete repairs on the bridge arches required MnDOT to delay the reopening until this fall.
Following the reopening event, MnDOT tentatively plans to reopen the Highway 65/Third Avenue Bridge in Minneapolis to buses, vehicles, and all users as early as 5 p.m. Sat., Oct. 28. However, the reopening is weather dependent and subject to change, as crews need dry weather to stripe the bridge to complete the work.
Find more information on the Highway 65/Third Avenue Bridge project webpage: mndot.gov/metro/projects/hwy65andthirdavebridge.
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