Site work and paving for a road / highway in Albert Lea, Minnesota. Completed plans call for site work for a road / highway; and for paving for a road / highway.

https://www.albertleatribune.com/news/songbird-trail-secures-26-million-for-highway-13-pedestrian-bridge-in-albert-lea-277f8e0a Freeborn County and the city of Albert Lea announced Thursday they have secured $2.6 million in grants to build a pedestrian bridge over Minnesota Highway 13 for the Songbird Trail. When complete, the trail will cover 15 miles of former Union Pacific Railroad line between Albert Lea and Hartland. The total cost of the pedestrian bridge is estimated at $4.5 million. “Development of the Songbird Trail has received wide support from residents since the original purchase of the abandoned rail line in 2014,” said Freeborn County Commissioner Nicole Eckstrom in a news release. “Trail systems take many years to develop. Using trail specific grants brings tax dollars back to Freeborn County.” She said she appreciates the ambition and cooperation between the staff of Albert Lea and Freeborn County, as well as the support from Waseca County, and elected officials, as they work toward completing the trail. “Not only do trail systems encourage residents to live a healthier lifestyle, but trails can foster economic development and support of small businesses,” Eckstrom said. The $2.6 million grant funding is from a $1.15 million federal Transportation Alternatives Grant administered by the Minnesota Department of Transportation and a $1.41 million MnDOT Local Partnership Program grant. According to the release, the city and county requested MnDOT support several options for crossing Minnesota Highway 13, but MnDOT determined the pedestrian bridge to be the most safe and feasible crossing for the four-lane highway. Options evaluated included the following: • A ground-level, two-staged crossing with a crosswalk for each set of travel lanes that included a safety area in the median, allowing pedestrians to reset between the crossings. MnDOT determined this an unsafe option due to traffic speeds and the number of accidents at the intersection with West Main Street about a half-mile away. • A tunnel under the highway, deemed infeasible due to high ground water, potential for seasonal flooding, lighting needed for safety and high construction costs. A bridge crossing with long approaches and gradual inclines on each side. This is the safest option for trail users and highway traffic. Bridge construction is scheduled for 2029 or 2030 to align with grant funding. Initial construction in 2026 of the trail will include: • Paving the trail on the east side of Highway 13 from Fountain Street to Shoff Park in Albert Lea. • Paving the trail on the west side of Highway 13, from Sunset Street to County Road 74/220th Street. • Replacing the railroad bridge over Shoff Creek with a pedestrian bridge. • Reconditioning the remaining three railroad bridges along the corridor to pedestrian standards with new decking and railings. With the 2026 grants, the trail has now received a total of $4.1 million, with the total trail project from Albert Lea to Hartland estimated at $8 million. The city and county will continue to seek additional funding, with grants determining the construction schedule and segments. The ultimate goal is to connect the Songbird Trail to the Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail near Waterville via New Richland and Waseca, a distance of 50 miles. ------------------------------------------------- Songbird Trail The project is included in the City's 2026-2030Capital Improvement Program (CIP). As of January 29, 2026, further details have not yet been identified. *Project information has been obtained through a public capital improvement plan (CIP). A CIP is a financial schedule for short- and long-range projects which is updated regularly. Information listed in the CIP often evolves based on funding availability and the project details, including timeline and value, are subject to change. The content management team will continue to pursue additional details as they become available.