Pedestrian bridge removal to close part of I-94 in St. Paul

Driving between Minneapolis and St. Paul will be a little more difficult beginning Friday as a segment of Interstate Hwy. 94 will be closed for demolition of the Griggs Street pedestrian/bicycle bridge.

By TIM HARLOW, Star Tribune

Last update: December 4, 2008 - 9:49 AM

Driving between Minneapolis and St. Paul will be a little more difficult for part of this weekend as a segment of Interstate Hwy. 94 will be closed to allow the Minnesota Department of Transportation to take down the Griggs Street pedestrian/bicycle bridge.

The freeway will be shut down between Lexington and Snelling avenues while the bridge is removed.

Westbound lanes of I-94 will close at midnight Friday and remain closed until about noon Saturday. Entrance ramps to westbound I-94 between Lexington and Snelling avenues also will be closed. Motorists will be detoured to Hwy. 36.

Eastbound lanes of I-94 will be closed from 10 p.m. Friday to noon Saturday. Entrance ramps to westbound I-94 between Lexington and Snelling avenues also will be closed. Motorists will be detoured to Hwy. 280.

The Griggs Street pedestrian bridge has been closed since Nov. 14. An analysis by MnDOT found that concrete eroding from the bottom of the bridge beams weakened the structure and made it unsafe.

A new bridge is expected to be built and open to pedestrian and bicycle traffic by September 2009.

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