Construction Begins on Rockford Road Bridge Over Highway 169
MnDOT started a road construction project in New Hope and Plymouth on Monday. Crews will spend two weeks fixing the Rockford Road bridge that crosses over Highway 169 and connects the two suburbs.
There will be single-lane closures on the bridge between 8:30 am and 4 pm daily. MnDOT will also close the northbound and southbound ramps from Highway 169 to Rockford Road during construction.
Drivers in that area should prepare for possible delays and allow extra time on their commute. Concrete barriers will be put on the shoulders of Rockford Road until a new bridge is built in 2023 or 2024.
“We plan to work with Hennepin County and the cities of Plymouth and New Hope,” said MnDOT’s David Aeikens. “To work together on a bridge design that fits the needs of the region.”
Second Rockford Road Bridge Project
This is the second Rockford Road project for MnDOT in two years. In 2019 crews finished construction of a new bridge over I-494 in Plymouth.
The construction temporarily impacted businesses in the area, but now traffic flow is better, the span is wider and bridge capacity is higher than the old one. Approximately 39,000 cars and trucks use the bridge each day.
The new bridge is safer and has extra turn lanes on Rockford Road which reduces traffic. Upgrades were also made to the ramps connecting Rockford Road and I-494.