Midtown Greenway bike bridge over Hiawatha opens Nov. 8
Bicyclists will finally have something to do while they wait for that long light at Hiawatha … cross the bridge.
The long, curving structure with the sail-like cables has graced Hiawatha Avenue near South 28th Street for months, but, on Nov. 8, the cable-stay bridge will finally open to the public, especially bicyclists who have been braving long stoplights and automobile traffic to cross Hiawatha at grade.
The 2,200-foot-long span will be known as the Martin Olav Sabo Bridge for the longtime former U.S. congressman who helped secure federal grants for the project.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at 4:30 p.m., followed by the lighting of the bridge at 5 p.m.
During a media tour of the bridge in September, Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin called crossing Hiawatha at-grade “a daunting task,” and he welcomed the opening of the bridge to the full range of bicycle skill levels, from “families with babies in the back to racers.”
At the west end of the bridge, the greenway will cross South 28th Street, where pedestrian-activated lights — similar to signals at the nearby Minnehaha crossing — will be added. McLaughlin said the city is considering narrowing the street to one lane in each direction at the crossing, in order to slow traffic.
The bridge’s design allows it to run beneath the high-tension electric wires but above the lines that power the LRT line. The bridge’s pylons will be lit at night, and the bridge will feature security cameras and a “code blue” emergency phone at each end.
On the east end of the bridge, the Longfellow Community Council and the Midtown Greenway Coalition hope to create a “green gateway” for the Midtown Greenway. The two groups have been working with public agencies that own the land, and they will host two community meetings (see info below) to gather input on landscaping and other design elements for the area.
The 2008 Arbor Day planting celebration will move to the east side of the bridge after being held further east along the greenway in recent years. The city has obtained funding to build a bicycle roundabout in the area, as well.
The two community meetings will be held at the following dates and times:
Saturday, Nov. 10, 10 a.m.–noon
The Green Institute
2801 21st Ave. S.
Brainstorm session with the landscape architect. Come prepared to walk over the bridge to visit the site and share your ideas.
Tuesday, Nov. 27, 7–8 p.m.
Brackett Park
2728 39th Ave. S.
Presentation of draft landscape design and community discussion.
Contact Hillary Oppmann at hillary@longfellow.org or 722-4529 for more information.
last revised: November 7, 2007