Old Cedar Avenue Bridge Now Open

The Old Cedar Avenue Bridge officially opened last Friday to bicyclists and pedestrians even though it has been traveled by them for the last week and a half.  This opening creates a vital link across the Minnesota River connecting the South Metro to the communities North of the River without a long roundabout detour East and West of the Eagan/Bloomington area.

I have biked this area for many years and it's really nice having a crossing over the river to the Bloomington area in which I can head anywhere in the Twin Cities via streets, trails and light rail.  Not only are mountain bikers enthused about this new crossing which leads to the Mendota Trail on the Eagan side of the river and the Minnesota River Bottoms Trail, but also road cyclists that wish to ride routes that include roads on both sides of the river.

Cyclists aren't the only ones enjoying this new crossing, I have seen many walkers, runners and bird enthusiasts taking advantage of access to the Wildlife Refuge they didn't have before.  The bridge is slated to remain open until the Spring of 2017 when it will close again for road construction in nearby areas reopening in the fall of  2017.

The parking lot at the base of the bridge on the Bloomington side opened last Friday as well.  Now users of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge can park nearby and experience all that the Refuge has to offer.

Old Cedar Avenue Bridge Rehabilitation Project is Underway

After many years of discussion, debate and extensive studies, the rehabilitation project for the Old Cedar Avenue Bridge over Long Meadow Lake is finally underway.  Since its closure in 2002 to pedestrian and bike traffic, the old steel truss bridge has been deteriorating and considered an undue safety hazard.

Now that the City of Bloomington has secured Federal and State funding for the rehabilitation project, construction will begin in 2015 and open to cyclists and pedestrians in the Spring of 2016.  A team of  bridge engineers and historians has been hired to consult and develop the final project design plan which will wrap up in November.  Bid letting for the project is expected to take place in December and project commencement in January 2015.

This project has been long awaited by cyclists and will be a very important river crossing not only for bike commuters, but recreational riders and pedestrians alike.  A public meeting on the project was held in June and another will be held this Fall.

For more information about the Old Cedar Avenue Bridge visit the Old Cedar Avenue Bridge over Long Meadow Lake - History Frequently Asked Questions page on the City of Bloomington website.  For a background of the bridge, project status and information on public meetings about the project, visit the Old Cedar Avenue Bridge Over Long Meadow Lake website.   Subscribe to receive email updates on the Old Cedar Avenue Bridge Project.