Replacing aging transportation infrastructure remains a priority for public agencies seeking to improve long-term reliability while minimizing service disruptions. Lunda Construction has secured the Roberts Street Railroad Bridge Replacement Project in St. Paul, Minnesota, adding another major bridge assignment to its transportation portfolio.
Lunda Construction, a subsidiary of Tutor Perini Corporation, will replace the existing 113-year-old Roberts Street Railroad Bridge crossing the Mississippi River in St. Paul.
The project includes replacing the existing 189-foot vertical lift truss bridge with a new 215-foot rolling bascule truss span designed to improve long-term rail operations.
Additional work includes replacing six existing steel approach bridges, rehabilitating concrete bridge piers, removing timber protection walls along the navigation channel, installing a new steel pile protection wall supported by a new pier, constructing a 38-foot-diameter sand-filled crash bumper, and building a concrete platform for a new bridge operations facility.
Construction is expected to begin in July 2026 and reach substantial completion by December 2029.
To minimize disruptions, the existing railroad bridge will remain in operation throughout construction, allowing both rail traffic and marine navigation to continue while the replacement structure is built.
Tutor Perini stated that the contract value was not disclosed but will be included in the company's backlog for the second quarter of 2026.
Rail bridge replacement projects require careful sequencing to maintain transportation operations while upgrading aging infrastructure. Delivering replacement structures without interrupting freight movement or river navigation remains a key consideration for owners and contractors.
For bridge contractors and infrastructure owners, the Roberts Street project demonstrates continued investment in modernizing critical rail assets through phased construction strategies that maintain operational continuity during multi-year rehabilitation programs.
Source: Business Wire.
