Plymouth Avenue Bridge
The bridge repair is officially underway!
In October of 2010, after routine inspections by the City of Minneapolis Transportation Department, the Plymouth Avenue Bridge was determined to be at serious risk; the Department head, Steve Kotke, recommended to me that we close the bridge. The recommendation was forwarded to the City Council and the Mayor. Included in the recommendation was a motion that we revise our legislative agenda to make the repair of the Plymouth Avenue Bridge our number one priority for the City of Minneapolis. Governor Dayton also placed the Bridge at the top of his legislative agenda. Ultimately, we received $8 million from the State of Minnesota, a significant achievement considering that it was the only local project funded by the State budget in 2011.
Despite receiving the necessary appropriations for funding the repair, the state government shutdown in July 2011 delayed the passage of funds from the State to the City. When a project is funded by the state, we must wait to receive the funds before we can spend them. Upon receiving the funds, the process that we must use is to advertise for bids on the project, go to a bidding process to select the company to hire for the project. The selected company is then approved by the City Council and Mayor.
The scheduled date the Plymouth Bridge is expected to reopen is October 15. Due to the fact that the bridge is in four sections the most critical area will be repaired in 2012. In 2013, the Bridge will be partially closed to repair the other sections. Traffic will be allowed during the repairs in 2013, and added bike lanes for a dedicated lane for bikers, and two lanes of traffic on the bridge after the Bridge is completed with the repairs. The dates all contingent on cooperative weather; I think we are all too familiar with the unpredictability of Minnesota weather!
I do not anticipate any further complications, but then again, I did not anticipate the collapse of the 35W Bridge or last year’s devastating tornado. This position has taught me that there are no absolutes. However, you can be confident that we have the very best people working hard to advance this project, and they will do everything in their power to finish as soon as possible. I understood the importance of this project from the beginning and have worked hard to move it forward. Bridges are crucial to our businesses, transportation, economy, and quality-of-life.
I appreciate all the questions I have received on this issue. I will continue to actively monitor this project, as I do with all the projects in the ward .Please email me: diane.hofstede@minneapolismn.gov or call the Third Ward office 612- 673- 2203 with any concerns or questions.
Last updated Aug. 9, 2012