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Songbird Trail receives $2.6 million in grants toward bridge construction

City News April 9, 2026

Freeborn County and the City of Albert Lea report more continued success at securing grant money to build the Songbird Trail along 15 miles of a former rail line between Albert Lea and Hartland.

“Development of the Songbird Trail has received wide support from residents since the original purchase of the abandoned rail line in 2014. Trail systems take many years to develop. Using trail specific grants brings tax dollars back to Freeborn County,” said Freeborn County Commissioner Nicole Eckstrom.

“I appreciate 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 towards a common goal.  Not only do trail systems encourage residents to live a healthier lifestyle, but trails can foster economic development and support of small businesses.”

The county will receive nearly $2.6 million toward building a pedestrian bridge over Minnesota Highway 13, estimated to cost $4.5 million total:

  • $1.15 million in a federal Transportation Alternatives Grant administered by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT)
  • $1.41 million in a MnDOT Local Partnership Program grant

The city and county requested that 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:

  • 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.

As part of a strategic plan to build the trail in segments to maximize grant dollars, initial construction in 2026 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.

A recent survey of residents in southern Minnesota found strong support for the project:

  • 321 of the 362 respondents, or 89%, said they support advancing the trail
  • The top five trail aspects most important to respondents were:
  • Safe walking and bicycling opportunities
  • Recreation and exercise
  • Access to park and natural areas
  • Economic development and tourism
  • Connections between cities and townships

Most respondents – 78% – were from Albert Lea and surrounding Freeborn County with the remainder from Waseca, Le Sueur, Faribault, Blue Earth, Mower and other counties.

For more information about the Songbird Trail, including its purpose and features, visit the Freeborn County website at: www.co.freeborn.mn.us/597/Songbird-Trail.

Project history

In 2014, Freeborn County acquired 12 miles of former Union Pacific Railroad corridor from the southern portion of Albert Lea to Hartland using grant funding through a Rails-to-Trails program.

In 2018, Freeborn and Waseca counties initiated a master planning effort to connect the Blazing Star State Trail to the Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail. Those two counties and the City of Albert Lea recently completed the plan and submitted it to the Greater Minnesota Parks and Trails Commission for designating the Songbird Trail as a regional trail, which will open for grant opportunities.

In 2022, the City of Albert Lea and Freeborn County formalized a Joint Powers Agreement to maintain the corridor and advance trail development, supported by a MnDOT Trail Action Planning grant. They also formed a joint city-county trail committee to guide the project.

In 2024 and 2025, the city and county agreed to equally share $350,000 in design costs for the first trail segment.

For immediate release
April 9, 2026
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