Commuting in downtown St. Paul will get tougher starting in April when the St. Paul Public Works Department begins a $12 million makeover of Kellogg Blvd.

It's been 80 years since the main thoroughfare made up of several complex and relatively unknown bridges was built, and now many of those bridges are deficient. Some are rated among St. Paul's 10 most deficient city-owned bridges.

The facelift will give the street a new look between Market Street and Wabasha Street, and result in the closure of Kellogg Blvd. until November. Additionally, the southbound lanes on the Wabasha Bridge, and the northbound lanes of the Exchange Street viaduct will be shut down for the duration of the project, the department said.

Local access to parking facilities and businesses will be maintained throughout construction.

"The reconstruction of Kellogg Boulevard is a complex project due to the location and intricacy of the bridges," said Public Works Director Kathy Lantry. "Because of this, we anticipate unavoidable and significant impacts to downtown traffic. We are working closely with businesses in the area to effectively manage traffic, especially during the many events that occur at the Xcel Energy Center, RiverCentre, and other nearby entertainment destinations during the summer."

At the same time, Ramsey County is planning to start tearing down the former Adult Detention Center and Government Center West buildings, which are located adjacent to the project area.

The city said it will send out e-alerts ahead of any planned changes in construction or traffic detours. For more information visit www.stpaul.gov/Kellogg.