With the Osceola Bridge Closing, Marine's Late Fall Turns Back Toward Judd Street

No earlier than late October, the Hwy 243 Osceola Bridge closes to traffic. It is expected to stay closed until fall 2027. Down the road at William O'Brien State Park, the Lake Alice beach, the fishing pier and the park's St. Croix water access are already closed. The DNR expects that project to finish in fall 2027 too. Marine on St. Croix's two nearby ways onto the river will both be closed this winter, and both projects are expected to wrap up in the same season. The DNR says the park's river access could reopen sooner if water levels allow. What stays open this winter is mostly within a few blocks of Judd Street, plus the park's trail system.

What MnDOT Has Committed To, and What It Hasn't

Earlier coverage, including CBS Minnesota's report on Osceola businesses, said the closure would start in mid-October. That date has slipped. MnDOT's October 2 schedule update, republished by St. Croix 360, says the closure will begin no earlier than late October. MnDOT's project page gives the window as "late October 2026 through fall 2027" without naming a day.

The Osceola Sun explained the delay. The river is low, so Lunda Construction is changing how it moves equipment into the water. MnDOT's Denise Workcuff told the paper that the start date depends on regulatory approvals and on the contractor finalizing its methods. She would not say whether the closure would come in October or November. She said the new bridge is still expected to reopen in fall 2027, with the full project, including a new shared-use path, finishing in 2028. In August, the same paper reported that the closure had been moved up from spring 2027 to this fall, so the bridge would reopen a year sooner than first planned.

The bridge carrying traffic now was built in 1953. MnDOT and WisDOT decided not to reuse any part of it. The new bridge is a concrete beam structure with three piers on the same alignment. A path for walking and biking will run along the north side of Hwy 243 from Osceola Landing to the Village of Osceola.

There are two ways around while the bridge is out:

• North detour: Hwy 95 to the Hwy 8 crossing at Taylors Falls, then Hwy 35 and Hwy 243 back to Osceola
• South alternate: Hwy 95 to the Hwy 36 crossing at Stillwater, then a chain of Wisconsin highways, Hwy 64, Hwy 35, Hwy 64B and Hwy 35 again, to reach Hwy 243

One Minnesota driver told CBS Minnesota that his 15-minute drive to Osceola will now take 30 to 45 minutes. The same report described bank and post office trips among the basic errands people from Marine on St. Croix and Franconia make in the area.

The village got a short preview this summer. The Hwy 243 approach at Hwy 95 was closed from July 20 for roundabout work, and the city's project page marked it reopened on August 14. During that closure the city routed traffic around through Hwy 8 and Wisconsin Hwy 35. This closure uses the same roads and lasts about a year.

MnDOT closed the north boat launch and parking lot at Osceola Landing on September 14 and lists them as closed through late summer 2028. The south launch and lot stay open during construction.

The Closure Inside William O'Brien

The park closure began more than a year ago. In August 2025, a damaged valve in Lake Alice's 1960s water control structure let the lake drain into the St. Croix. Sediment from the drawdown built up at the park's public water access in the Walter F. Mondale Day Use Area. The access closed in September 2025, when river levels dropped and launching became unsafe.

The DNR plans to replace the water control structure completely, make flood management improvements and dredge the river at the access. Dredging and construction are scheduled to start in spring 2027, with completion in fall 2027. Until then, the following are closed: the Lake Alice beach, the Lake Alice fishing pier, the accessible canoe and kayak launch on Lake Alice, and the St. Croix public water access. The DNR says the river access may reopen as water levels allow, and that canoes and kayaks can launch farther down the shoreline.

The bridge and the lake are on separate projects run by different agencies, but both carry fall 2027 completion estimates.

What the Park Still Offers Once Snow Arrives

The trails aren't on the DNR's closure list. In winter, that's most of what the park offers. The DNR's winter information describes 12 miles of groomed trails for classic and skate skiing and 1.5 miles of snowshoe trail along the Riverside Trail. Snowshoes can be rented at the park office.

The park is open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Three of its camper cabins are available year-round, and two more are open only from April through October. The DNR's winter map, which carries a 2025 copyright, says heated camper cabins and several plowed campsites are available in winter. It's a general statement, not this season's booking inventory, so check reservations and grooming reports before planning around them.

Three Judd Street Addresses

With the crossing gone, much of what fills the village's November and December sits on one short street.

101 Judd Street is the Marine General Store. It describes itself as the village's grocery, with deli, bakery, meat and dairy departments. Its posted hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The posted hours aren't dated, so they may change for winter. The store is also where you register a tree for this year's Enchanting Forest.

121 Judd Street is Village Hall, where most of the Marine Community Library's fall programs take place. The city's draft 2027 capital plan sets aside $40,000 toward the building's structural system and exterior restoration.

140 Judd Street is Brookside Bar & Grill. It's open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The kitchen closes at 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and at 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The menu covers burgers, salads, pizzas and seasonal specials, with 24 taps. Brookside has a Halloween karaoke night on Saturday, October 31.

Around the corner at 261 Parker Street, St. Croix Chocolate Company posts fall hours of Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Its site doesn't list winter hours yet.

The Calendar From Now Through December

Most of these dates come from the city's October–December newsletter and the library's event pages. Most are at Village Hall.

The Monster Dash is open to the public, and costumes are encouraged. The documentary series started its season on October 1.

November 28, the Busiest Day in the Village

The Enchanting Forest falls on Small Business Saturday this year. The city newsletter has the details. You claim a tree at the front counter of the Marine General Store, with a $50 payment due at registration, by check or cash only. Decorating day is November 28, and ornaments need to be non-breakable. Paper and crepe paper aren't allowed because they deteriorate quickly. The evening includes carols around a campfire, and the Scandia-Marine Lions Club sells hot drinks.

Osceola's merchants are hoping for something similar on their side of the river. Gwen Wright, owner of The Looking Glass, told CBS Minnesota, "We're all rooting for each other." She told KARE 11 she hopes the closure brings new customers to Osceola, recalling visitors who found the town during earlier bridge closures and kept coming back.

Winter parking rules start before the Enchanting Forest. From November 15 through April 1, parking on streets and alleys is banned from 2 to 6 a.m. The rule covers downtown businesses and apartment residents, and under Chapter 24 of the city code, vehicles left there can be towed at the owner's expense.

MnDOT encourages residents to sign up for project updates on its Hwy 243 Osceola Bridge page while construction continues.

If you're planning a sale or purchase in Marine for 2027, the bridge and Lake Alice reopening dates may affect when a home goes on the market and how it's presented. Smitten Real Estate Group can help you plan around the river's reopening schedule. Let's Connect.

This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional about your situation.