Project goals

• Improve safety and mobility for all people and modes of travel.
• Install an All Ages and Abilities bikeway facility.
• Find opportunities for green storm water improvements, plantings, and trees.
• Accommodate property access for people.
• Incorporate existing City policies.

Project overview

We plan to reconstruct 1.0 mile of 1st Ave. S. between Lake St. to Franklin Ave. 

Upgrades will include:

• new sidewalks
• ADA pedestrian ramps
• bicycle accommodations
• new pavement
• curb and gutter replacement
• utility improvements
• greenway bridge replacement
• storm and sanitary sewer replacement
• signal improvements
• new signage
• new pavement markings

View interactive map

Project update

What to expect:

• Concrete work on the sidewalks, bike facility, and curb and gutter between 24th St. E and Franklin Ave E will take place.
• Pavement removals and grading will take place between 25th St E and 24th St E.
• Asphalt paving will take place between 25th and 24th St. This is anticipated to occur mid-week.
• Storm sewer work will take place between 26th St. E and 25th St. This work will include lane restrictions on 26th St. E.
• Work on the new lighting system will take place between 27th and 26th St E.
• Planting for the new storm water gardens between Lake St and 27th St E will take place later this fall.

Traffic impacts

• Segments of 1st Ave. S will continue to be closed through the summer and fall. Drivers will need to follow the posted detour ­­­­­­­­­­­route.
• 1st Ave. S is closed from Franklin Ave to 22nd St and 24th St to 27th St.
• Vehicle detour route: Lake St., Lyndale Ave. and Franklin Ave.
• Bicycle detour route: Lake St., Blaisdell Ave. and Nicollet Ave., and Franklin Ave.
• 1st Ave. S., between 22nd and Franklin Ave. remains closed. Access will be maintained from either side for local residents.
• 1st Ave. S., between 22nd St. and 24th St. is a temporary two-way street to keep access to driveways.
• The intersection of 1st Ave S and 22nd St is expected to close towards the end of the week of July 11, after the intersection of 1st Ave S and 24th St is opened to vehicle traffic.
• The intersection of 1st S. and 24th St. is closed. This intersection is expected to open to traffic towards the end of the week of July 11.
• The intersection of 1st Ave. S. and 25th St. is open with a gravel surface.
• The intersection of 1st Ave. S. and 26th St. is open with two vehicle traffic lanes.
• 1st Ave. S, between 26th and 27th St. is closed.
• 1st Ave. S, between 28th and 27th St. will be closed to through traffic. Local access will be maintained.
• 1st Ave. S, between Lake St. and 28th St is open to normal traffic. This is coordinated with the City’s New Nicollet Ave Project (reconnecting Nicollet Ave between Lake St and 29th St/Cecil Newman through the former Kmart parking lot) The City’s Nicollet Ave project will be closing the intersection of Lake St and Nicollet Ave starting July 7. For more information on the New Nicollet project:  https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/projects/nicollet-ave-construction/ 
• The bike lanes along 1st Ave. remain closed between 27th St. and 19th St. E.

Past project meetings

Public meeting #5 - Pre-assessment meeting

We held a public meeting to provide construction updates as well as answer questions and concerns on May 2, 2024.

Public meeting #4 - Virtual open house

We held a virtual public meeting, presentation, and question & answer session on March 6, 2024

• View documents from Public meeting #4

Public meeting #3 - Open house

We held an open house at the Loring Park Community Arts Center on September 19, 2022.

• View documents from Public meeting #3

Public meeting #2 - Open house

We held an open house at Whittier Community School on May 25, 2022.

• View documents from Public meeting #2

Public meeting #1 - Virtual open house

We held a virtual public meeting, presentation, and question & answer session on March 8, 2022.

• View the meeting presentation
• View the meeting question & answer

Project video

1st Avenue S Reconstruction - Project overview

• View project overview video
• First Avenue South Reconstruction - Open house presentation

Project map

1st Avenue S Reconstruction - Project map

• View project map (2024)
• View project map (2022)

Lake at Nicollet reopening

The City will re-open Nicollet Avenue between Lake Street and Cecil Newman Lane.

View the Lake at Nicollet reopening project