MPRB previews trail bridge designs at “open house”

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) held an outdoor “open house” on July 23 to introduce two bridge designs for the proposed pedestrian trail bridge across the Mississippi River. 

The bridge would connect North and Northeast. The more than 70 people viewed several storyboards with design renderings as MPRB Project Manager Tyler Pederson answered questions. 

MPRB called the presentation “One concept – two scenarios.” Both designs were created by the same design team led by West 8 North America (which includes the local firm Barr Engineering). 

The first scenario, a covered wooden truss bridge, is the preferred design; however, a steel arch bridge design has been included as a back-up. A wood truss design would use more natural materials, in keeping with the broader concept of the urban trail system. It would, however, require six piers to hold it up. The steel design would only need two piers, reducing the bridge’s effect on the river. 

Cross-river bridge piers can disturb water flow and have an impact on embankment flood control. If approval for the wood truss bridge’s design isn’t successful, the steel arch design would replace it. Both the multi-pier wood truss and the two-pier steel arch bridges are designed to meet the targeted project cost of $30-35 million. 

In discussion for 25 years

The idea of a connection over the Mississippi River has been in discussion for at least 25 years, and has been noted in MPRB, City of Minneapolis, and Hennepin County plans. The proposed bridge would be in the Above the Falls Regional Park and help connect regional pedestrian and bicycle trails, specifically the connection at the 26th Avenue N. Overlook. 

The Overlook, completed in 2021, 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. 

MPRB currently has an easement with the City of Minneapolis to operate a park at the terminus of 26th Avenue North on the west bank of the river. 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. 

The site of the open house was 1720 Marshall St. NE, a property owned by MPRB that includes a section of riverfront intended to be the east terminus of the proposed bridge. The east bank site includes an empty two-story building, which is slated for demolition. (Earlier plans for the site to become a maintenance facility for 2nd District parks were never implemented).

Pederson said, “The plan allows for a river crossing more aligned with the characteristics of a park, not just a transportation conduit,” and will make a five-mile riverfront loop trail when coupled with regional trails and the Stone Arch Bridge, completely separate from vehicular traffic.

He said the project duration would be four to five years minimum from its start last fall, if funding is in place, which it currently is not. He said once funding is secured, a more detailed timeline will be created. 

Next step: studying the data

“The next step is to digest the input we’ve received from collaborating agencies, the public, and City and MPRB staff. Then the design team will refine the concept and prepare a final plan and narrative to present to the Board of Park Commissioners for their consideration.” 

Included in that input will be the results of an online survey on the project that drew more than 800 responses at its Aug. 5 conclusion and produced a 115-page document. Pederson and his staff are studying the results. He noted, “The summary will take a week or two to complete due to the sheer amount of responses.”