Eastbound Kellogg RiverCentre Bridge

Kellogg Boulevard looks like a common downtown street, but it is actually supported by several large bridge structures that extend from the river bluff below. This project will replace one of those bridges, reconstruct the Exchange Street viaduct, and re-route the loading dock road that serves the RiverCentre/Xcel Energy Center.

This 85-year-old bridge has served generations of Minnesotans. It has outlived its expected 75-year lifespan and the concrete structure is now deteriorated and needs to be replaced.

Yes. Bridge maintenance crews perform regular inspections of this and all City bridges. Public safety and welfare are our top priority.

View our interactive designs to see more information about the new bridge and an interactive view of the proposed preliminary design.

Yes. The City retained a qualified public artist to engage the community and integrate public art opportunities in the design. Please share your ideas for art and aesthetics by filling out the survey questions.

This project will replace old, deteriorated infrastructure without adding or removing vehicle lanes. To the average driver, roads will remain familiar and traffic patterns will not change. 

The Xcel/RiverCentre loading dock road currently exits at an intersection inside of the Exchange Street viaduct. The project will re-route the loading dock road to a new exit on Eagle Street. The Exchange Street intersection and traffic signal will therefore be eliminated, improving traffic flow and safety within the viaduct.

A barrier-protected, shared-use pedestrian and bicycle trail is proposed as part of the new bridge. The trail will provide a new and important link between Shepard Road (Sam Morgan Regional Trail) and Kellogg Boulevard (future Capital City Bikeway).

​​​​​​The timing of construction depends on funding availability. If the project is funded in 2021, construction can begin as soon as Fall 2022 and will take 2 years to complete.  

Some amount of inconvenience and delay is unavoidable. City traffic engineers will evaluate how to best operate roads and signals in the area, in an effort to reduce traffic impacts. Vehicle detours and accessible pedestrian routes will be provided.

Bridge and road work will require the closure of Exchange Street (from Eagle Street to Washington Street) and Eastbound Kellogg Boulevard (from West 7th Street to Market Street). 

Westbound Kellogg Boulevard is planned to remain open as a one-way downtown street during construction, to provide circulation around the RiverCentre/Roy Wilkins/Xcel Energy Center and Ordway.

Parking ramps will remain open. Access to the RiverCentre and Science Museum parking ramps will be restricted to lower entrances (accessed from Eagle Street).

Downtown attractions and facilities will remain open. Some features, like vehicle drop-off and loading zones, may be relocated during construction. The Xcel/RiverCentre loading dock road will operate during construction.

Additional details will be shared as the design progresses.

No, this project is independent from the RiverCentre Parking Ramp redevelopment project.  However, the new bridge design will accommodate future ramp redevelopment.

No. The funding for the bridge will come from federal, state and/or local funds.

• Art Design Concepts for the Exchange Street Tunnel Entrances/Exits

• First Community Engagement Summary
  • Summary of the Survey Feedback
  • Answers to Commonly Asked Questions