I-94 Footbridge

Built in 1977 and designed by Egil Wefald and Associates of Minneapolis, this foot and bicycle bridge crosses I-94 at the point of the old entrance to the St. John’s. The old entrance road was directly beneath the left end of the bridge. The bridge was constructed at this location because of the plan for traffic interchanges coming into St. John’s. Due to the closeness of a major fork at I-94 and County Road 75, the diamond exit-entrance ramp could not have been placed at the former east entrance of campus. To accommodate this, the footbridge was constructed to give access to the former east entrance of campus. Otherwise, that entrance would have been entirely sealed off. The bridge also serves as a necessary link to hiking and cycling trails.

Bibliography: 

• Schneider, Jim. “Interstate 4-1-4 Nearly Complete Connecting Link Needs Final Test,” The Record, December 16, 1968, p. 1. 
• Hirigoyen, Pat. “Backstage Planners Reroute Traffic; Pine Curtain Closes On Tradition,” The Record, March 2, 1973, p. 1, Stephen Humphrey letter to the Editor, p.2.
• “On the Cover,” Saint John’s University Alumni Magazine, July 1978, p. 1-2.
• Hanlon, Bob. “I-94 alters St. John’s Approach,” Saint John’s Alumni Magazine, July 1976, p. 11-12. 
• Aug. 25, 1976 Community, p. 1. – aerial photo of work on I-94
• “St. John’s Covered Bridge,” Confrere, January 30, 1978, p.4.