Dale Street Bridge Reconstruction

TKDA improves vehicular and pedestrian safety and traffic operations through bridge reconstruction

The original Dale Street Bridge featured four narrow traffic lanes, no shoulders, and two narrow sidewalks. Over time, traffic volumes substantially increased, and pedestrians crossing the bridge were only inches away from traffic. A community-led Dale Street Pedestrian Safety Study began an extensive process to involve the community in helping design a new bridge that would improve traffic and pedestrian safety, as well as honor the Rondo neighborhood that was significantly impacted by the original bridge construction.

To improve pedestrian safety and traffic operations at the Dale Street – I-94 interchange, TKDA completed the public engagement, preliminary and final design, contract administration, and construction inspection services to design a bridge more than twice the width of the original. Our team combined a unique blend of engineering innovation, art, and community input to create a structure with vastly improved geometrics and one that honors the Rondo neighborhood of the past, present, and future.

Through the Saint Paul Springboard for the Arts organization, three local artists with deep Rondo ties, Mica Lee Anders, Hawona Sullivan Janzen, and GE Patterson, were chosen to review all the community input and develop the aesthetic design of the new bridge. Under the mentorship of artist Seitu Jones, the art team landed on several design features for the new bridge to represent the Rondo Community. With all the art components on this bridge and the plaza-like pedestrian path, the bridge is as much of a destination as it is an important vehicular and pedestrian crossing over a busy freeway.

CLIENT: Ramsey County
LOCATION: Saint Paul, Minnesota
AWARDS: ACEC/MN Engineering Excellence Grand Award, APWA Minnesota Chapter Project of the Year (Honorable Mention)