Highway 243 Osceola Bridge closure begins Nov. 16 for bridge removal
ROSEVILLE, Minn. – Drivers will encounter a one-year closure of the Highway 243 Osceola Bridge connecting Minnesota and Wisconsin starting Nov. 16, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
Beginning at 5 a.m. Monday, Nov. 16, the Osceola Bridge is scheduled to close to traffic between the Osceola Landing and Highway 35 to allow crews to remove the existing bridge and build a new one in the same location. Weather and schedule permitting, the new bridge is expected to open in late 2027. Seasonal flooding, river water levels, and other environmental factors could impact the construction schedule.
When the bridge is closed, drivers will follow a detour using Highway 95, Highway 8 through Taylors Falls and Highway 35 in Wisconsin.
River access will remain open for recreational users throughout construction. A signed portage route around the work zone will be available during temporary closures of the navigation channel.
Ahead of the Nov. 16 closure, crews will clear trees and vegetation along the portage route while the bridge remains open to traffic, as well as paint fresh pavement markings along the Highway 8 portion of the detour route.
MnDOT and WisDOT are partnering to replace the Highway 243 Osceola Bridge over the St. Croix River to maintain a reliable connection between Washington and Chisago counties in Minnesota and the village of Osceola in Polk County, Wisconsin. The current bridge, built in 1953, will be replaced with a new bridge in the same location. The project will also include a new pedestrian and bicycle path linking Osceola Landing to the village of Osceola. Construction is anticipated to be completed in fall 2028.
For more information, visit the project webpage at mndot.gov/metro/projects/hwy243osceola.
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