SAINT PAUL, MN (August 4, 2026) – Starting on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, the City of Saint Paul and Ramsey County will temporarily close a portion of the Bruce Vento Regional Trail until further notice. Out of an abundance of caution, pedestrians and bicyclists will not be able to access or use the trail portion that goes through the historic tunnel under East 7th Street, due to risk of falling debris.
The Bruce Vento Regional Trail that goes through the historic tunnel, known as the Seventh Street Improvement Arches, will be closed until further evaluation can be completed by the city, county, and MnDOT. The city, county, and MnDOT are actively working together to explore any available temporary solutions to reopen the trail. Updates, including next steps and timeline for reopening the trail will be provided as information becomes available.
Pedestrians and bicyclists should use the posted detour route outside of the park along Payne Avenue to Beaumont Street East.
“We recognize this unexpected closure will be an inconvenience for many enjoying various park amenities and traveling through the area as the Bruce Vento Regional Trail is highly used for access to Swede Hollow Park, Wakan Tipi, and connections to other regional trails,” said Nick Peterson, City Engineer for City of Saint Paul Public Works Department. “We ask people to plan accordingly and carefully use the posted detour along Payne Avenue.”
“Safety was the shared priority for the city, county and our partners as we assessed the condition of the historic bridge," said PW Director Brian Isaacson from Ramey County. "We’ll continue working closely with the City of Saint Paul and MnDOT to fully assess the condition of the Seventh Street Improvement Arches and determine what steps are needed before this section of the trail can safely reopen. We appreciate the public’s patience while that work is underway.”
About the Seventh Street Improvement Arches
According to Trail Link, a website by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (https://www.traillink.com/trail/bruce-vento-regional-trail/): The Bruce Vento Regional Trail passes through the stone arches of the bridge known as the Seventh Street Improvement Arches. Built in 1884, it is considered one of the most important feats of engineering in Minnesota history and one of the few examples of this style of construction in the United States—not to mention the only one of its type in Minnesota. Locally quarried limestone was used for most of the stonework: The wing walls and abutments were carved from Saint Paul gray limestone, and buff-colored Kasota limestone came from quarries in the Minnesota River Valley.
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