Traffic Impacts Continue, Beach Road Bridge to Close: St. Croix River Crossing

Traffic impacts as a result of the St. Croix River Crossing Project continue this week as construction crews gear up to remove one of the most traveled highway overpasses in Washington County.

The removal of the Beach Road Bridge is scheduled to take place in early August, so crews can construct approach highways for the new St. Croix River Crossing.

If you use the bridge and would like more information on the removal and reconstruction, MnDOT is hosting a public meeting from 5:30-7 p.m. Monday night at Oak Park Heights City Hall.

Jon Chiglo, St. Croix Crossing project manager, will give a brief presentation about the closure at 5:45 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

The bridge will close in early August, weather permitting, allowing crews to construct the new Beach Road Bridge.

With the temporary bridge closure, permanent closures will occur at the entrance ramp from Beach Road to westbound Highway 36 and the exit ramp from eastbound Highway 36 to Beach Road.

For access to and from Highway 95 during the bridge closure:

• Access to southbound Highway 95 will be available from eastbound Highway 36 by going south on Highway 5 and then east on County Road 14. (see map)
• Access to westbound Highway 36 will be available from northbound Highway 95 by going west on 56th Street N., south on Stagecoach Trail, west on County Road 14 and then north on Highway 5. (see map)

New Highway 95 ramps to and from Highway 36 are anticipated to be open at the end of September 2013, according to MnDOT. The new Beach Road Bridge will open by the end of 2013.

The Minnesota approach project will be complete by fall 2014 and the new St. Croix Crossing bridge will be complete in fall 2016.

These changes that began last Tuesday—Highway 36 switchover, temporary traffic signals on Highway 95 and the excavation in the area—will  continue through the end of September, weather permitting.

Heavy equipment has infiltrated the area in and around the work zones while crews realign Highway 95, reconstruct eastbound Highway 36, build ramps to and from Highway 95, complete utility work and construct trails. 

Construction on four of the five river pier locations are underway. Boaters on the St. Croix River will experience no new impacts, but the no wake restriction in the worker-safety zone is still in effect. 

Future Impacts

Highway 95 Weekend Closure

Highway 95 will close over a weekend sometime in August, weather permitting. The closure is necessary, according to MnDOT, to remove the fly over bridge from eastbound Highway 36 to northbound Highway 95.

Nighttime Hauling

Nearby residents and businesses will experience some visual and noise disruptions beginning late-July while crews excavate and haul excess dirt during daytime and overnight hours Monday through Saturday.

This will continue through mid-August, according to MnDOT, and additional nighttime hauling is possible later in the season. This work is needed to construct the Hwy 36 extension to the new St. Croix Crossing.