Monday, February 13, 2017

Open house for Kennedy Bridge reconstruction set for March 1



BEMIDJI, Minn. – Area residents, business owners and others are invited to attend an open house on Wednesday, March 1 to learn more about the reconstruction of the Highway 2 Kennedy Bridge between East Grand Forks and Grand Forks.

Community members are welcome to drop by anytime between 4:00 and 6:00 pm at the East Grand Forks City Hall training room, 600 Demers Avenue. Information on the project timeline, lane closures, short-term detours and anticipated traffic impacts will be available. There will not be a formal presentation, but representatives from MnDOT and the project contractor will be on hand to answer questions.

Construction is expected to begin in March and the bridge will remain open throughout most of the two year project. Along with preserving the historic nature of the bridge, the project will improve safety for motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists.

The final design features a complete deck replacement, pier replacement, structural repairs and new lighting. The new layout will maintain four lanes of traffic and also adds an additional protected walkway that will connect the Greenway Trail on each side of the river.

For more details, including tentative project schedule, closures and project FAQ, visit the project website: www.mndot.gov/d2/projects/kennedybridge

The $15.66 million project is a joint design of the Minnesota Department of Transportation, North Dakota Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration.

The Kennedy Bridge was built in 1963 and currently serves 23,000 vehicles per day. Two other bridges span the Red River in East Grand Forks, including the Sorlie Bridge which underwent a $4.2 million restoration last year.

To request an ASL or foreign language interpreter, call 651-366-4720.  To request other reasonable accommodations, call 651-366-4718 or email adarequest.dot@state.mn.us.