How’s this for a Thanksgiving surprise?
After 15 months offline for renovation, the Smith Avenue High Bridge over the Mississippi River in St. Paul reopened Wednesday, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
The bridge represents a major entryway to Uppertown and downtown from the West Side.
A new bridge deck was installed as part of a larger project to resurface Smith Avenue and Dodd Road, or Minnesota 149, between West Seventh Street in St. Paul and Interstate 494 in Mendota Heights.
A short section of the Samuel Morgan Trail that runs beneath the High Bridge and adjacent to the river will remain closed through early December while crews finish restoration work near the trail.
The dog park located beneath the bridge remains open, albeit in a different configuration to allow room for a construction staging area into spring 2019.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled at 1 p.m. Dec. 2, followed by a winter walk and public celebration at the Capital View Cafe.
