Robert Street Bridge in St. Paul closes for 6 weeks starting Saturday

If you’ve driven across the Robert Street Bridge near downtown St. Paul, you might have noticed a bit of a bumpy ride; now, it’s time for a fix.

According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), there’s an ongoing problem with a seal coating product that’s been used on some of the bridges around the metro, including the Mendota Bridge and the Wakota Bridge.

"And for whatever reason on the river bridges, it’s coming off," Project Manager Carolyn Adamson said. "The decision was made, it didn’t matter so much as why, as the fact that these are big important structures that are critical to our infrastructure and it’s important to get them sealed and protected."

The bridge will close for six weeks starting Saturday as part of a larger project along Robert Street. The detour takes drivers to the Wabasha Street Bridge.

More significant improvements are on the way for this busy road that connects downtown St. Paul, the west side neighborhood business district, and West St. Paul.

Later this summer, MnDOT plans to work with the community to get input on safety improvements and street design features along Robert Street.

Learn more about the project.