Project coming in June
We anticipate replacement work to begin as early as June, and take up to five months to complete. We will provide updates as we get closer to construction.
Preconstruction activities before
In May, Metropolitan Council began relocating their underground utility line ahead of the bridges replacement. Their work will have minimal impacts to North Shore Drive users. Throughout the month, there will also be additional work happening near both the bridges such as private utilities relocating their service lines and removing trees within Hennepin County right-of-way to replace the bridges.
New bridges will require less maintenance
The new bridges will have the same dimensions and look to help preserve existing space for adjacent properties and the natural features along the channels.
When complete, the new bridges will reduce the need for frequent maintenance activities in the future and meet today's and future travel needs.
Plan ahead for detour
We will close and replace both bridges at the same time. Closing both bridges will allow our crews to complete all construction work and limit closures to just one construction season.
During the closure, people using North Shore Drive will need to use the detour taking:
- North Shore Drive (County Road 19)
- Bayside Road (County Road 84)
- Leaf Street (County Road 84)
- Fox Street (County Road 84)
- Old Crystal Bay Road (County Road 84)
Local access and impacts during construction
Access to North Shore Drive between the two bridges will remain open to local businesses, boat launches and residences. People will need to use North Shore Drive (County Road 19), Bayside Road (County Road 84) and Tonkawa Road (County Road 135) to access these locations.
The Hendrickson and Noerenberg channels connecting Crystal, North Arm and Maxwell bays will close for short durations during the construction. There will also be intermittent partial closures -- including on weekends. The channel width will be restricted, but people boating will still be able to travel through the area.
We will inform people of these closures with signage and traffic control boats to guide boaters through the channel.

View of the detour and local access routes (current as of April 2022)