The city of Austin and Minnesota Department of Transportation will split the $80,000 to $100,000 in additional costs to widen the sidewalk over the 11th Drive Northeast bridge over Interstate 90 from 6 to 10 feet next year.

City Administrator Craig Clark worked with MnDOT to secure the joint payment plan, which the City Council approved earlier this week.

A 5-foot sidewalk from Eighth Avenue Northeast near the county recycling center will approach the bridge, where pedestrians will cross I-90 on the west side of the bridge at a 10-foot wide trail between the center and the eastbound off-ramp. The trail will continue across the bridge and then connect into Todd Park.

The $80,000 to $100,000 in additional cost comes in part because the wider sidewalk will require an additional support beam for the bridge.

The city will pay for its portion from its state aid account and potentially with the help of a Hormel Foundation Grant.

The plan to rebuild the bridge in 2017 is one of the first using Vision 2020’s plan to beautify the road through Austin.

The bridge is one the first being done under new specifications outlined in the Visual Quality Manual, which was developed by Vision 2020’s Gateway to Austin Committee.

The plan outlines ways to beautify the I-90 corridor through Austin with landscaping, bridge designs and wider sidewalks.

Council member Judy Enright thanked City Administrator Craig Clark for negotiating a 50-50 cost-share with MnDOT.

The city is also paying up to $25,000 for plantings and landscaping near the bridge.