Wakota Bridge

Wakota Bridge is a road bridge carrying ten lanes of Interstate 494 across the Mississippi River between South St. Paul and Newport in Minnesota. The structure includes separate pathways for pedestrians and cyclists running alongside the vehicle lanes.

An earlier four-lane bridge opened in 1959 to serve the area. The current structure replaced it after construction began in 2003 and was finished in 2010, providing significantly increased capacity.

The name Wakota represents the connection between Washington and Dakota counties, marking the boundary between these two regions of Minnesota.

The bridge provides separate pathways for pedestrians and cyclists alongside vehicle traffic. These facilities are accessible daily, with heaviest traffic during peak commuting hours.

The bridge employs a segmental design that balances modern engineering with local geographic conditions. This approach allows it to handle heavy traffic while maintaining river clearance for boat navigation.

Location: South St. Paul

Location: Newport

Inception: 2006

Official opening: 2006

GPS coordinates: 44.88310,-93.01500

Latest update: December 12, 2025 14:24