Mendota Bridge to receive $2.5 million railing upgrades
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After upgrading sections of its railing in 2024, the Mendota Bridge will undergo additional changes through fall 2026.
The bridge, which connects Fort Snelling to Mendota Heights, will have its metal railings raised from 42 inches to 54 inches. It is expected to cost an additional $2.5 million.
MnDOT’s standard railing height is 54 inches, but it initially restored the railings in 2024 to the historic height of 42 inches.
The bridge is on the National Register of Historic Places. MnDOT says that it will continue to follow preservation requirements to avoid the ‘adverse impact’ to the bridge’s unique features.
At the time of its construction, it was the longest continuous concrete arch bridge in the world, according to MnDOT’s website.
Pedestrians and bicyclists should anticipate the bridge’s trail being closed until the project is completed. Motorists should also expect narrower lanes during construction.
The department says that they will “do everything we can to minimize impacts and open [the bridge] earlier.”
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