About this project
John Ireland Blvd. bridge project location map.
Crews will be making improvements and focused structural repairs to the John Ireland Blvd. bridge over I-94 between Kellogg Blvd. and Rice St. in St. Paul. Constructed in 1967, the bridge is currently in safe condition, but a focused structural repair is necessary to ensure it remains safe for travelers based on modern weight limits. As part of this project, we will also complete minor repairs on 10 other bridges in the area over I-94 and I-35E.
This project includes a careful disassembly and rebuild of the structure of the John Ireland Blvd. bridge, which carries four lanes of vehicle traffic over I-94. The bridge will be rebuilt within the same footprint as the existing bridge, and other safety and cosmetic changes will be made as well, including sidewalk repairs, updates to existing bike and pedestrian facilities, accessibility updates, and railing replacements.
In 2023 and 2024, we engaged stakeholders and community members to consider options for bike and pedestrian facilities on the bridge. Learn more about the engagement process on the engagement report webpage.
The final layout was designed and selected for its future compatibility with other design and transportation planning efforts in the area, including Rethinking I-94, the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board’s Capitol Mall Design Framework and the City of St. Paul’s bike plan. Work on bridges in the surrounding area will begin in spring 2025. Construction of the John Ireland Blvd. bridge is scheduled to begin in late 2025, after the Twin Cities Marathon, and anticipated to be complete before the 2026 Twin Cities Marathon.
Summary of work
- Rebuild structure of the bridge
- Safety and cosmetic changes
- Sidewalk repairs
- Updates to existing bike and pedestrian facilities
- Accessibility updates
- Railing replacements