Stone arch bridge zip code12/22/2023 ![]() ![]() "This bridge is just the symbol of our city, a major piece of our transportation network. MnDOT's $26 million budget is 80% federal, 20% state funding. The Legislature allocated $5 million for Stone Arch Bridge repairs this year. Their appeal for millions of dollars to fix the Stone Arch Bridge got "very political" in the Legislature, with Minneapolis being accused of trying to take all the money that the state had in an account for railroad bridges, recalled Park Board lawyer Brian Rice at Wednesday's board meeting. It's been through several rehabilitation projects over its lifespan, but in 2018 Park Board commissioners started sounding the alarm for new repairs. ![]() The bridge sits within the Central Mississippi Riverfront Regional Park, with the Minneapolis Park Board managing activities on its surface. The Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority purchased it in 1989, and ownership transferred to MnDOT in 1992. The 140-year-old Stone Arch Bridge carried passenger trains across St. "So Third Avenue will be done, and the new accessibility for bikes and pedestrians on Third Avenue will be open and ready to go." "That's one of the reasons why we didn't work on both bridges at the same time," Blanchard said. It'll then serve as the detour for commuters between downtown and the neighborhoods east of the river. The parallel Third Avenue Bridge, which has been closed for $129 million in repairs for the past two years, will reopen next month with a party. It won't be possible to walk or bike the full length of the bridge the two years of construction, but visitors will still be able to get out to the halfway point. Then they'll reopen that side and close the western half of the bridge near Mill Ruins Park and Owamni. Anthony Main, for the first half of the project while workers scrape out old mortar and replace stones found to be in poor shape, said project manager Amber Blanchard. Ruts in the path prevent the use of strollers, however.MnDOT will close the east side of the bridge, near Father Hennepin Park and St. The rails and ties have been removed providing a wide walking path. It is constructed on an abandoned railroad line, the "Red Line," on which trains traveled from Acton to Nashua. From there the walk to the bridge is level and only about a half-mile long. LocationYou can park near the sign on Cold Spring Road, which is just north of the intersection with Forge Village Road. The Stone Arch Bridge area is administered by the Westford Conservation Commission. ![]() If you are continuing from the Tom Paul Trail at Pine Ridge Road, proceed through the Spalding Town Forest to the Stone Arch Bridge trail head. You can actually walk all the way to the Stone Arch Bridge from Westford town center on the 2.5-mile Tom Paul Trail (see also full-length map). You might want to bring along binoculars and a birding guide. Shortly before the trail end ends at an active railroad crossing, another kiosk was built in 2021 by Scout Jack Sielian. In late fall, the brook hosts many species of migrating ducks. This is a short, hilly loop trail which affords nice views of the brook’s north side. A little further along the main trail, on the right, the Stone Arch Bridge trail is marked. Notice the beaver dam built right next to the bridge. To fully appreciate its beauty, you need to continue on and take a trail to the right which angles backwards to the bottom of the bridge. The bridge was built by the railroad in 1872, and was constructed entirely of huge granite blocks, without mortar. The main trail crosses over the top of the Stone Arch Bridge. Along the bird sanctuary trail, there are nesting boxes and benches erected by Eagle Scouts. This is a good place to spy wood ducks, red-winged blackbirds, kingfishers and a beaver lodge. This short, hilly trail loops around a peninsula which juts out into Stony Brook. On your left, a trail to the Russell Bird Sanctuary is marked. Also look for red fox hunting mice on the hill.Īs you continue on the walk, you will pass a vernal pool on your right, which in early spring, may be full of “quacking” wood frogs and singing spring peepers. The birds have taken up residence and one can now observe vibrant bluebird pairs perching on the hill’s grass and weed stems. Trashmore,” but at which a resident has erected a sign naming it “Bluebird Hill.” This caring individual has erected bluebird nesting boxes on the dump’s vent pipes and also around the edge of the hill. On your right, you will pass the old, capped dump, which residents used to call “Mt. The primary access is on Cold Spring Road, next to a large kiosk. ![]()
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