A major bridge renovation in downtown Minneapolis and a three-year fix of Highway 52 in southeast Minnesota are among the high-profile road and bridge projects completed during the 2023 season, the Minnesota Department of Transportation said Monday.

MnDOT, which officially wrapped up its construction season Monday, said nearly 230 projects overall were advanced or completed during the past year. In April, the department said its $1.3 billion 2023 season would touch 171 road and bridge projects and 52 improvements related to airports, water ports, railroad crossings and transit infrastructure.

“This year’s construction season resulted in safer roads, bridges, intersections and improved accessibility for people who use active transportation to walk, bike or roll to local destinations throughout the state,” MnDOT Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger said in a statement. “In addition to resurfacing roads and improving or replacing bridges, crews installed proven safety infrastructure around the state — including nearly 42 miles of center cable median barrier, and more than 30 J-turn intersections or roundabouts.”

Completed projects include the $129.3 million Third Avenue Bridge makeover in Minneapolis. As part of a three-year project, workers “extended the life” of the historically significant, 105-year-old crossing by “repairing expansion joints, concrete and bridge foundations, refurbishing an ornamental rail, updated lighting and building a protected bikeway to improve safety,” MnDOT said.

Finance & Commerce previously reported that the multi-year project would take longer than expected. The bridge was supposed to partially reopen to traffic in October 2022, but additional concrete arch repairs, delayed material deliveries and high-water levels on the river pushed the reopening to summer 2023, MnDOT said.

Also completed was the Highway 52 reconstruction between Zumbrota and Cannon Falls. During three years of construction, crews “reconstructed 12.5 miles of southbound Highway 52, built a new interchange at Highway 52 and Highway 57/Goodhue County Road 8, and replaced three bridges at interchanges and one over a river, built a noise wall and installed permanent snow fence,” according to MnDOT.

MnDOT said the project was designed to improve safety and reduce the risk for crashes, according to MnDOT.

Elsewhere in the state, workers wrapped up a Highway 14 fix between New Ulm and Nicollet. The project completes a “continuous four-lane highway between New Ulm and Rochester,” MnDOT said.

A complete list of current and future MnDOT construction projects is available at mndot.gov/roadwork.

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