With cyclists in mind, MnDOT to show 3 designs for John Ireland Boulevard redo near State Capitol

Frederick Melo, Pioneer Press
Updated ·2 min read

In the spring and summer of 2026, the Minnesota Department of Transportation will rebuild John Ireland Boulevard from the Minnesota State Capitol over Interstate 94 almost to Kellogg Boulevard, a $16.2 million project that will take its spans offline for most of the construction season.

The boulevard, which technically spans two bridges built in the mid-1960s, already has markings for in-street bike lanes. An open house on Tuesday will showcase three potential designs for the new bridge decks, which could stay roughly the same, add a six-inch tall raised median between drivers and cyclists or install a 20-inch tall concrete barrier between the two. Public input on the designs will include an online survey that will run through June 30.

Currently, “there’s markings, but there’s not a physical barrier,” said MnDOT spokesperson Ricardo Lopez.

None of the three designs would add or remove any of the four car lanes, but two options adding a physical separation between drivers and cyclists would narrow driving lanes.

MnDOT hopes to choose between those three options and unveil a final design by August. The Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board, which oversees zoning and planning around the State Capitol, will have final say over the ultimate design.

The bridge, built in 1966, was widened in 1985 and four gatehouses were added in 1990. The gatehouses would remain untouched by construction, according to MnDOT.

Bridge updates will include raised railings and other changes to accommodate modern weight limits, as well as some Americans with Disabilities Act improvements around the intersection of John Ireland Boulevard and 12th Street.

The bridges carried some 7,200 vehicles, 264 pedestrians and 176 bicycles between May 2021 and April 2022, according to traffic counts.

Lopez said the goal, which is weather-dependent, would be to have the rebuild done in one construction season in 2026, ideally before the Twin Cities Marathon.

“There’s going to be some minor work happening on the bridge next year, just like painting and restriping,” Lopez said. “Right now we’re just having the public engagement.”

Tuesday’s open house will be hybrid — both in-person and virtual for those who choose to attend remotely. The open house will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. at St. Paul College, 235 Marshall Ave. in St. Paul. More information is online.

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