Overall, the City of Winona will remain open for business throughout the duration of this project and commuters, visitors and shoppers will have little to no travel impacts. This is mainly due to the addition of a second new bridge to the project scope, allowing the new bridge to be built off-line first, while traffic is maintained on the existing structure. Once Hwy 43 traffic is switched to the new structure, the existing bridge will be rehabilitated and reconstructed.
Click map for larger PDF version
Lane/road closures
The Hwy 43 Mississippi River Crossing will stay open at all times throughout the project.
Peak hour traffic impacts on Hwy 43 across the river will be minimized.
3rd Street and 2nd Street will not be closed at the same time; 2nd Street closures will be limited to weeks in duration, while 3rd Street may have long term closures.
Pedestrians will be accommodated throughout the project, and pedestrian routing during Hwy 43 detours will be coordinated closely with city staff.
Bike trail closed under Winona bridge
The bicycle trail on the levee under the Winona bridge is
closed during construction until late 2019. Bicyclists should detour from Johnson Street to Second Street to Riverview Drive.
View/print bike detour map (PDF). The section of the bike trail from Riverview Drive to the bridge, which will be used as construction
access, will be rebuilt as part of the project and re-opened following construction. View/print project overview map (PDF)
Weight restrictions
The Hwy 43 Winona bridge has a gross weight limit of 80,000 pounds until further notice.
Work Package #3 consisting of the new bridge river pier foundations was let on July 30; construction on the permanent features of work is scheduled to begin in early September.
The project is on schedule to meet one of the important project goals, the shifting of Hwy 43 traffic to the new bridge by the fall of 2016.
Final design teams are working towards a late January 2015 letting for Work Package #4, which will complete the new bridge and include all roadway work. They have also started assessing the rehabilitation and reconstruction work that will be required on the existing bridge.
Right of way acquisition process progressing as planned.
A new version of the site plans for the area underneath the Winona Bridges was developed by the MnDOT Project Management team after several meetings with City of Winona staff members. It was presented to the Winona City Council on Aug. 18, and will be pursued in further detail with cost and maintenance responsibilities considered.
Winona Bridge south abutment proposed plans. Click for larger image.
Included in the proposed plan is a bike path that would run along the river and cross the railroad tracks to connect with the Levee Trail and the Mississippi River Trail, along Riverview Drive. Also included are ponds, greenery, several seating areas, a plaza space for events and information kiosks. Prior to actual construction of these site features, a Cooperative Cost and Maintenance Agreement between MnDOT and the City of Winona is required.
About this project
Summary of work
The Winona Bridge carries an average of
11,300 vehicles per day
MnDOT is moving ahead with a two-bridge solution that rehabilitates the existing bridge and builds a new permanent bridge immediately upstream of the existing bridge.
We've gotten some questions about why the existing Cass Street Bridges in La Crosse include a tied arch structure next to a through truss as well as why the plans for the new Red Wing Bridge include a tied arch bridge alternate, while the new Winona Bridge is planned to be built using a concrete box girder design along with rehabilitation of the existing bridge. The answer is: due to several factors, a tied arch design was considered as an option for the new Winona Bridge project but the concept did not ultimately become the recommended new bridge type. Learn more.
$150 million to $175 million (total planning-level cost estimate; cost range includes right-of-way, design and construction contract administration and reflects a number of unknowns and assumptions)
