NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 29, 2020
MEDIA CONTACT: Rachel Gregg, Bridge Engineer
218-262-0174
Portion of North Shore Drive (CSAH 61) to close June 1 for bridge replacement
Replacement of the bridge spanning the French River will close a segment of North Shore Drive beginning Monday, June 1. Traffic will be detoured along Ryan Road, MN Highway 61 and Homestead Road. Work is expected to last until mid-November.
The project involves removing the existing 99-year-old bridge, construction of a new bridge consisting of a concrete beam single-span bridge, plus reconstructing 875 feet of approach roadway. Also part of the project will be improvements to the adjacent wayside rest area including an ADA accessible overlook structure at lake level, increased parking, and a sidewalk crossing the new bridge for improved pedestrian safety.
Work on the project has been scheduled in a way to allow the road and new bridge to temporarily open for several days in September for the North Shore Inline Marathon. Due to Grandma’s Marathon cancelling, the removal of the existing bridge can now be performed two weeks sooner than planned, which helps the already compressed construction schedule. The project is expected to wrap up for the season by November 13. Additional work on the wayside rest area, landscaping and final cleanup will take place next year, though the road will remain open for that portion of the work.
Kraemer North America, LLC is the contractor for the project, which is estimated to cost $4.97 million. The project will be funded by Federal, State Aid, and Transportation Sales Tax (TST) dollars. The federally funded portion of the project was obtained by the County submitting an application to the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) specifically for the wayside rest area.
As always, motorists are reminded to slow down and use extra caution any time traveling in or near a work zone.
To learn more about this or any other St. Louis County road construction project, or to sign up for email updates, visit stlouiscountymn.gov/construction.
 The 99-year-old bridge crossing the French River on North Shore Drive will be removed and replaced beginning next week as part of a $4.97 million project that also involves mprovements to the adjacent wayside rest area, increased parking, and a sidewalk crossing the new bridge for improved pedestrian safety.
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