Historic 3rd Avenue Bridge in Minneapolis closes for nearly 2 years

Monday morning, crews shut down a major bridge in Minneapolis, and the closure is expected to last nearly two years.

The historic Third Avenue or Highway 65 bridge over the Mississippi River connects northeast Minneapolis to downtown Minneapolis. It’s now closed for repairs until November 2022.

Crews will replace the bridge deck, make repairs to the ornamental railing and update the lighting. According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the bridge is 102 years old.

"One of the things that’s important about this project, that it is an historic bridge and we’re doing everything we can to maintain its historical integrity," Dave Aeikens, a MnDOT spokesperson, said.

Vehicle and pedestrian traffic will be detoured to Hennepin Avenue, while bicyclists are encouraged to use the Stone Arch Bridge.

The bridge will be safer when it reopens, too. A concrete barrier will separate vehicle traffic from the new sidewalk and bicycle lanes.