FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 26, 2012
Bicyclists among those celebrating Lowry Bridge re-opening October 27
Tomorrow, October 27, the Lowry Bridge will re-open to the public. The Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition, together with other organizations, local residents, and advocates for riverfront trails, successfully worked with County staff and elected officials to incorporate bike facilities on the Lowry Bridge. Bicyclists will participate in the bridge opening “parade” at 12:15 October 27 as part of bridge-opening festivities.
The design of the bridge will provide comfortable and safe options for a wide range of bicyclists. People who are comfortable biking next to speeding traffic will have the option of a bike lane, and the bike lane will remind motorists to watch for bicyclists.
Those who prefer more separation from traffic will have the option of using a shared trail that is 11 feet wide, accommodates both bicyclists and pedestrians, and is separated from the motorized traffic by a short wall and guard rail. This trail will also include observation areas for taking in the river views from the bridge.
The Lowry Bridge is a critical connection in a developing network of trails and bike lanes that will serve North & Northeast Minneapolis.
- Hennepin County’s reconstruction of Lowry Avenue in North Minneapolis added bike lanes, and with the resolution of a short gap along Lowry between I-94 and 2nd St., these will directly connect to the Lowry Bridge.
- Marshall Avenue is being repaved this summer, and work is underway to find options for adding bike facilities to Marshall between Lowry and Broadway.
- The RiverFirst plan calls for trails along both sides of the Mississippi, adding more transportation and recreational connections to the Lowry Bridge.
Thanks to the good work of all involved, this iconic bridge will live up to Hennepin County’s Complete Streets policy, and will serve all modes of transportation well for decades to come.
Mark Stenglein, formerly County Commissioner for the district that includes the Lowry Bridge, and his staff, especially Kari Dziedzic, were very helpful throughout the process.
A schedule for tomorrow's festivities is as follows:
10:30 – 11 a.m. Patrick Henry and Edison high school marching bands
11 a.m. Short program (near Marshall St NE and Lowry Ave NE)
11:30 a.m. Ribbon cutting
11:45 a.m. Twin Cities River Rats water ski performance
12:15 p.m. Ceremonial parade across bridge (starts near of 2nd St N and Lowry Ave N)
1 p.m. Event concludes
More information about the grand opening can be found on Hennepin County’s Lowry Avenue bridge website at http://www.lowryavenuebridge.com/.
