Overview
Status:
- Eastbound bridge construction will begin spring 2008
- Westbound bridge was completed in 2006.
Location:
- South St. Paul and Newport
Schedule:
Description:
- Reconstruction of I-494 and Hwy 61 including replacement of the I-494 bridge over the Mississippi.
Background
- The I-494/Hwy 61 Wakota Bridge project reconstructed I-494 between Concord Street in South St. Paul and Lake Road in Woodbury and Hwy 61 from just south of the St. Paul Park Road interchange in St. Paul Park to just north of Carver Avenue in St. Paul.
- The project included associated local road improvements within St. Paul and Maplewood in Ramsey County; South St. Paul in Dakota County; Newport, St. Paul Park, Woodbury and Cottage Grove in Washington County.
- The project included construction of two pedestrian/bicycle overpasses in Newport near 12th Street and 20th Street and a pedestrian/bicycle trail on the new I-494 bridge over the Mississippi River. Additional pedestrian/bicycle trails are located along Hastings Avenue, Maxwell Avenue, Glen Road, and Bailey Road in Newport, and along Summit Avenue in St. Paul Park.
Wakota Bridge
- Construction of the westbound span of the new Wakota Bridge began in 2002 and opened in 2006.
- A design error was discovered during construction of the westbound span in 2004 and required retro-fitting the bridge before it opened.
- When the eastbound span is completed in 2010 five traffic lanes in each direction will be provided, currently the westbound bridge is carrying three traffic lanes in each direction.
Status
- The redesigned eastbound river bridge, including some of the roadway on each end of the bridge, was re-bid as a separate project on Jan. 25, 2008.
- The low bidder is Lunda Construction Co. at $60.1 million. Additional information on the bid letting.
- The eastbound bridge work will begin in spring 2008 with project completion in 2010.
- The estimated cost of the entire Wakota project, including the eastbound river span, is $300 million.
Project accomplishments
- The majority of the Highway 61 portion of the work has been completed.
- Three lanes are provided for traffic in each direction on the new westbound river bridge, which opened to traffic in fall 2006.
- Congestion in the project area has decreased.
- Much of the work along I-494 has been completed.