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Edina council weighs cladding and a $1.4M funding gap on Roslyn Park pedestrian bridge; staff to return contract for May review
Summary
Public works staff reported low bids for the Roslyn Park pedestrian bridge of $7.6M (no cladding), $8.0M (partial cladding) and $8.4M (full cladding). With $6.2M from MnDOT, the council discussed closing a $1.4M–$2.2M gap and indicated preference for partial cladding, asking staff to return a contract to council after MnDOT signs a cooperative agreement.
City engineers told the Edina City Council on April 21 that bids and indirect costs for the Roslyn Park pedestrian bridge leave a funding gap after a $6.2 million MnDOT allocation.
Public Works Director Chad Milner presented three options: no architectural cladding (total project cost with indirects estimated at $7.6 million), partial cladding limited to the bridge ($8.0 million), or full cladding of bridge and ramps ($8.4 million). He said the bids vary considerably with schedule; the council’s preferred schedule produced the prices above.
Milner said MnDOT has committed $6.2 million, leaving a funding gap of approximately $1.4 million for the no‑cladding option and up to $2.2 million for full cladding. If the council chose no cladding, staff recommended covering the remaining gap by delaying other capital projects; partial or full cladding would force larger future delays in planned infrastructure maintenance.
Brad Smith, the project architect, argued partial cladding preserves the competition design and community identity while reducing costs and lifetime maintenance: "The partial cladding option strikes the right balance, helping with budget concerns while maintaining the community's original vision for the bridge," he said.
Council members raised safety and sight‑line concerns related to cladding, discussed the interaction with a planned 20‑foot MnDOT noise wall (scheduled for 2028), and explored whether minor TIF balances could cover partial cladding. Staff reported a Centennial Lakes TIF balance of roughly $300,000 (potentially up to $400,000), which could nearly cover the partial‑cladding gap without delaying the other maintenance projects previously listed.
Outcome and next steps: Council did not award a contract at the meeting but asked staff to return a contract for council consideration once MnDOT completes its cooperative agreement, targeting the May 5 meeting. Staff indicated partial cladding could be funded with available Centennial Lakes TIF funds if the council wishes to pursue it; council members generally favored partial cladding if it can be funded without deferring critical maintenance elsewhere.
Context: The council has debated combining form and function for the bridge since a 2024 design competition; members and residents have alternated between prioritizing the aesthetic, community‑gateway role and the fiscal impacts on other infrastructure.
