Ramsey County planned to replace the Dale Street Bridge (CSAH 53) No.9387 over TH 94 in Saint Paul. The Dale Street Bridge provides grade separation over, and interstate access to TH 94. The intersections at Concordia Avenue and Saint Anthony Avenue, located immediately south and north of the bridge respectively, are signalized, with adjacent intersections along Dale Street being through-stop controlled. The goal of the project was to improve the operations of the signalized intersections at both ends of the Dale Street Bridge, improve pedestrian mobility and correct geometric deficiencies.
In February of 2016, Ramsey County began an extensive 18-month public involvement process where many of the concerns expressed highlighted the community’s desire to celebrate and tell the story of the Rondo neighborhood’s public gathering center that was located where the Dale Street Bridge currently resides. The County listened and participated in community-driven design workshops where numerous options were discussed and considered, resulting in a request from the community for wider sidewalks. The sidewalks and barrier separated from traffic, on the bridge will be 16′, a combination of a 10′ walk area and a 6′ area that is reserved for future unfunded art. This unique space is being reserved to enhance community connectivity as a result of the previous construction of TH 94. The neighborhood groups hired three local artists that are developing a vision for how this space can be used to tell the Rondo neighborhood story.
The new bridge includes two 16-foot barrier separated sidewalks, two lanes of traffic in each direction and two left-turn lanes. In addition to the bridge replacement, the project reconstructed Dale Street between Iglehart Avenue and University Avenue. The proposed design incorporated left turn lanes onto the eastbound and Westbound TH 94 ramps (Saint Anthony Avenue and Concordia Avenue), upgraded bridge and roadway lighting and improved the accommodation and mobility of pedestrians. The proposed left-turn lanes improved traffic operations, as well as safety along Dale Street. The design of the new bridge increased the horizontal clearance on TH 94 by removing the side piers and locating the abutments 30 feet from the edge of the existing travel lane.