Location

• Hwy 61 Mississippi River crossing in Hastings

 

Schedule

• Began October 2010
• Two lanes of traffic switched to new bridge in 2013
• All four lanes open to traffic tentatively by the end of 2013, with construction completed spring 2014
  
  

Construction Cost

• $120 million
  
  

Traffic Impact

• The existing Hastings Bridge will remain open during construction of the new bridge

 

 

Accessibility and state highway projects

All MnDOT projects--both new construction and rehabilitation projects--must include evaluation to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Components can include, but are not limited to adding curb cuts, truncated domes and accessible pedestrian signals. Learn more about Accessibility and MnDOT

 

Specifics for this project

• Accessible Pedestrian Signals installed at 4th Street and Hwy 61
• Installing curb cuts and truncated domes at intersections as required
• A 12-foot-wide common use pedestrian/bike path from 4th Street to the North Loop
• Pedestrian and bicycle accommodations for the existing Mississippi River Trail and proposed Point Douglas Trail which will meet current Mn/DOT design recommendations and ADA standards
• A new North Loop contributes to safety by eliminating an at-grade, high-speed median crossover from northbound Hwy 61 into local businesses; it also will allow southbound pedestrians safe access to the local trail system
  

Cyclists and pedestrians

Pedestrians and cyclists travelling on the city trail through downtown Hastings will be detoured along Second Street between Ramsey Street and Lock and Dam Road. The detour is to remain in place until further notice and circumvents what is commonly known as the Hudson Building area.

 

The sidewalk along the existing Hastings Bridge is closed at the north end of the bridge. Pedestrian travel on the existing bridge is discouraged. The sidewalk is narrow and is not protected from the adjacent traffic, and does not meet current minimum width for ADA of four-feet wide with passing zones every 200 feet. The new sidewalk and other pedestrian facilities on the new Hwy 61 Hastings Bridge will comply with ADA standards.

 

Construction of future trail connections north of the bridge are not part of the new Hwy 61 Hastings Bridge project.