Lowry Avenue Bridge

Description

Since 1905, the Lowry Avenue Bridge has been a local landmark. Renovated in 1958, the bridge was closed in April 2008 after engineers determined that it posed an unacceptable risk to the traveling public due to continued structural issues with one of the bridge piers. Prior to its closing, the bridge carried about 12,000 cars a day across the Mississippi River on Hennepin County State Aid Highway 153 between north and northeast Minneapolis. The bridge was demolished during the summer of 2009 and construction of the new bridge began in the fall. Construction of the new bridge will run through 2011.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) provided for the creation of new financing tools designed to promote economic recovery and to invest in infrastructure that will provide long-term economic benefits. In February 2010, Hennepin County established a Recovery Zone and will likely issue up to $26.85 million dollars in Recovery Zone Economic Development Bonds to put towards the full replacement cost of the bridge, which is expected to be almost $100 million.

Additional funding sources include Hennepin County bonds, State of Minnesota bridge bonds, and a $475,000 federal appropriation granted in March 2009.

Money Received

$26,853,000 Recovery Zone Economic Development Bonds