After being closed for renovation most of last summer, the bike trail on the Mendota Bridge will close again in summer 2026 for a construction project to raise the bridge’s guardrail height — back to where it was before.
The Mendota Bridge is on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2024, its bike and pedestrian railing was replaced as part of a bridge rehabilitation project and the railing was lowered to its historical height, 42 inches. That’s the minimum height standard for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
Since then, however, Twin Cities bicyclists have raised concerns about the new railing. Many commented on a local biking Facebook page about the lower height, calling it “frightening” and “sketchy.”
“It’s low enough that if a strong wind or encounter with a passing cyclist happened to knock you sideways, you could possibly go right over the top of the railing and off the bridge,” said Zack Mensinger, chair of the St. Paul Bicycle Coalition.
After a review, MnDOT has decided to raise the railing to the department’s standard height of 54 inches. It will add a structure on top of the existing railing to give it the extra height.
The project will cost $2.5 million and is scheduled for summer into fall of 2026. Money from the project will come from state road construction funds for bridge projects, according to MnDOT.
Historical characteristics
Jennie Hinz is a communications officer for MnDOT.
“So much goes into these projects, and we do care so much about safety and construction and historic preservation,” Hinz said. “When we did hear concerns, we went back and reviewed it, and then had to work through all of those historic guidelines again. So it’s not an easy fix.”
Hinz said the 2024 railing renovation was partially funded by the Federal Highway Administration. Historic bridge work must comply with federal requirements called “The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.”
These standards include minimal changes to the historical characteristics of the structure. Hinz said the railing was lowered as part of efforts to preserve the historical characteristics of the bridge.
CJ Lindor, education manager at Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota, said the alliance is part of the Minnesota Advisory Council on Traffic Safety and the Active Transportation Advisory Committee. Lindor said neither of these committees were consulted about the 2024 project ahead of time.
“The realization of how the project would look didn’t land until it was basically completed already and reopened,” Lindor said.
Hinz said MnDOT typically does not have public engagement on bridge preservation projects.
Differing opinions
Bicyclists pass each other on the Mendota Bridge. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
The trail over the bridge will be closed next summer into fall 2026. Andy Singer, former co-chair of the St. Paul Bicycle Coalition, said the construction cuts off a major route for cyclists trying to travel to and from the west side of St. Paul.
St. Paul resident Jeremy Norton biked across the renovated Mendota Bridge for the first time Wednesday. He said he didn’t think the railing was too low, and that the concerns might be an issue of “perception of safety versus actual safety.”
Related Articles
Second teen dies after Eagan crash; State Patrol says vehicles were racing
Apple Valley police ask for help in finding suspect in fatal stabbing
Second defendant admits to role in fatal shooting of South St. Paul father during marijuana robbery
Suburban restaurant group hires former Revival, Corner Table chef Thomas Boemer
Minneapolis man charged with May shooting at Apple Valley park
“You’d have to be having a really bad day to get flung off the side,” he said.
Jim Tucker of Minneapolis said he has been biking over the Mendota Bridge for about 50 years. He also said he wasn’t concerned about the new guardrail height.
“It’s OK. It’s all brand-new,” Tucker said. “I remember when it used to be all rusted.”
Mensinger, of the St. Paul Bicycle Coalition, said he’s glad the railings are being raised, even if it requires closing the bike lanes again.
“While I’m glad the issue is getting addressed, it’s really disappointing that MnDOT staff didn’t think things through better initially,” Mensinger said.
For more information on the project, visit dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/hwy55mendotabridge.
Leave a Reply