Major Minneapolis construction projects under way
Construction season is in full swing in Minneapolis, and this year more than 50 miles of Minneapolis streets will be repaired, using more than 44,000 tons of asphalt. City of Minneapolis leaders announced the 2009 public works projects today at a news conference along Lake of the Isles Parkway, the site of one of the major road renovations slated for this year.
2009 projects include road reconstruction, renovation and replacement; bike and walking trail construction and maintenance; and, sewer and stormwater improvements.
Projects for 2009
Streets – Approximately 53 miles of streets will get a new surface in construction ranging from seal coatings to complete reconstruction. Among the biggest roadway projects are:
- MARQ2 – The reconstruction of Marquette and 2nd avenues is a key component of transportation improvements Downtown. Both streets and the adjoining sidewalks are being rebuilt through Downtown, from 1st Street to 12th Street. The end result will bring better transit access, wider and greener sidewalks, and other improvements.
- Hennepin and 1st avenues two-way st avenues will switch from being one-way streets to handling two-way traffic. Along with restriping and traffic signal changes, crews will smooth out the surfaces of these streets with a seal coating.
- Chicago Ave. – This is the second year of a total street reconstruction of Chicago Ave. Construction will take place from Franklin to 25th Street, and from 26th Street to 28th Street, meaning the street will be all-new from Franklin Avenue to Lake Street.
- Lake of the Isles – The last time this parkway was resurfaced was back in the late 1970s. Crews will be resurfacing all 2.8 miles of this roadway in four phases of construction.
Bikes and pedestrian ways – Presently, there are 123 miles of bikeways in Minneapolis, with Public Works projects adding even more this year.
- Non-Motorized Transportation Project – This is an ongoing effort that will ultimately add an additional 45 miles of bike lanes and bike paths to the city by 2010. Some restriping work will take place this year. Also, hundreds of bike racks will be installed throughout Minneapolis.
- Phase III of the University of Minnesota Bikeway – This leg of the bike trail will connect the east end of Bridge 9 to the U of M transitway.
- Hiawatha trail connection - This project will connect the Hiawatha Trail at 11th Avenue to 3rd and 4th Streets near the Metrodome (as well as add a bike lane on 3rd Street), providing a more direct connection between Downtown Minneapolis and the Hiawatha Trail.
- 13th Street Pedestrian Gateway
Water and Sewer – Many city water mains, storm water drains and sanitary sewer lines will be improved to increase the quality of tap water and reduce the chances that sewer overflows will get into the Mississippi River.
- Water main cleaning and lining – Cleaning and lining projects will take place at six sites around Minneapolis, often in conjunction with other roadway work. When completed, seven miles of water mains will have a new concrete lining, extending the lifespan of the mains and improving the quality of tap water that runs through them.
- Stormwater and sanitary sewer – Minneapolis is continuing its work on projects to remove excess water flow from the sanitary sewer system to reduce the chance of untreated sewage getting into the Mississippi River. The Combined Sewer Overflow and Rainleader Disconnect projects are both designed to disconnect points where stormwater drains into the sanitary sewer lines, reducing the problem. Approximately 13 different sites are slated to be disconnected this construction season.
Many of these projects will require road closures, lane restrictions and detours. The best way drivers can find out about these traffic changes is by subscribing to the City's traffic alerts online. The City will also notify the local media about any major traffic impacts so they can share them with the public.
More information about Minneapolis 2009 Capital Improvement Projects is available on the City's Public Works site.
Published Apr. 20, 2009