Minneapolis Construction Update August 4 - 10 , 2012

Wrapping Up Sidewalk and Road Reconstruction Sidewalks that were scheduled to be complete later this fall are getting a boost to the front of the line so that all the pedestrian routes from Church Street to University Avenue will be in their final and fresh condition by the start of fall semester.  The goal is to have clear sidewalks in place for the start of school to ensure all new and returning students can confidently explore Stadium Village and patronize local businesses.  With the start of school also comes the reopening of East River Parkway under the Washington Avenue Bridge, Ontario Street, Huron Boulevard, and Washington Avenue from Huron to University Avenue.  Just two weeks after the start of school, Washington Avenue from Oak Street to Huron Boulevard will open to traffic in its final configuration marking the end of road and sidewalk reconstruction in Stadium Village! As always, construction schedules depend greatly on the weather.  For the latest updates on the schedule, make sure to check the weekly construction updates sent out every Friday afternoon from the Central Corridor Project.

Top photo: Staff from Jamba Juice on the corner of Washington and Harvard steps out onto the new sidewalk.  By the start of fall semester, all sidewalks from Church to University are scheduled to be complete. Photo right: Crews finish sidewalk on the southwest corner of Harvard Street and Washington. Harvard will open to traffic early in the week. To view an updated version of the summer road closure schedule, visit http://bit.ly/IJo8gt.

Construction Highlights for the Week of August 4 - 10

• Pedestrian paths on both sides of East River Parkway closed under the Washington Avenue Bridge through mid-August;  detour via Pleasant Street. -NEW
  
• North sidewalk of Washington Mall closed from Pleasant Street to Union Street; use south sidewalk or sidewalk on the north side of Ford Hall and Amundson Hall.  -NEW
  
• Washington Avenue doorways to the University of Minnesota Transportation and Safety building reopen. -NEW
  
• Intersection of Harvard Street and Washington Avenue reopens early in the week. -NEW
  
• North, south, and east crosswalks at intersection of Washington Avenue and Harvard Street reopen; west crosswalk remains closed. -NEW
  
• South side of the Malcolm Avenue and University Avenue intersection closed through mid-August; detour via Bedford Street to Orlin Avenue. -NEW
  

Other Road Construction in the Minneapolis Area

I-35W and Washington Avenue Interchange Area - No Change 

• Ramp from northbound I-35W to University of Minnesota East Bank closed until end of summer to allow for installation of a fully signalized intersection.
• Hiawatha Bicycle Path between West Bank and downtown Minneapolis over I-35W detoured through 2013 Web Link (pdf)  

West Bank Area- No Change  

• Westbound traffic from East Bank to downtown continues to turn right on northeast Cedar Avenue Ramp and through to the northwest Cedar Avenue Ramp to access Third Street.
  

• No closures/detours.

East Bank– Mississippi River to West of Harvard Street

• East River Parkway under the Washington Avenue Bridge closed through mid-August. Access to buildings and parking ramp maintained, bicycles must follow signed vehicle detour.

• Pedestrian paths on both sides of East River Parkway closed under the Washington Avenue Bridge through mid-August;  detour via Pleasant Street. -NEW
• North sidewalk of Washington Mall closed from Pleasant Street to Union Street; use south sidewalk or sidewalk on the north side of Ford Hall and Amundson Hall. -NEW
• West sidewalk of Union Street closed from Keller Hall plaza to Washington Mall; detour via east sidewalk. -NEW
• Crosswalks at Union Street and Washington Avenue intersection closed; temporary crosswalks added north and east of intersection on Union Street. -NEW
• South sidewalk of Washington Avenue between Union Street and Harvard Street closed; use north sidewalk. -NEW
• Washington Avenue doorways to the University of Minnesota Transportation and Safety building reopened. -NEW
• South sidewalk of Washington Avenue between Pleasant Street and Church Street closed.
• Washington Avenue north/south crossings at Church Street closed; use pedestrian bridges near Coffman Memorial Union. ADA access available via west pedestrian bridge.

Stadium Village- Harvard Street to Huron Boulevard 

• Intersection of Harvard Street and Washington Avenue reopens early in the week. -NEW
• Washington Avenue closed between Oak Street and Huron Boulevard through mid-September. Access to the Valu Liquor parking lot is available from University Avenue through the Burger King parking lot and westbound on Washington Avenue. -NEW
• Ontario Street closed at Washington Avenue until the start of fall semester. -NEW
   

• North, south, and east crosswalks at intersection of Washington Avenue and Harvard Street reopened; west crosswalk remains closed. -NEW
• Sidewalk on the northwest corner of the Ontario Street and Washington Avenue closed in front of Raising Cane’s; pedestrian path maintained via detour around the construction zone. Access to Raising Cane’s is available from Ontario Street entrance. -NEW
• East and west crosswalk at intersection of Washington Avenue and Ontario Street closed. North and south crosswalks pushed back from the intersection about 20 feet. -NEW
• Eastbound bus stop at Ontario Street and University Avenue closed for approximately two weeks; bus stop relocated to the southwest corner of Oak Street and University Avenue.
  
  

Stadium Village- University Avenue, Huron Boulevard and 23rd Avenue- No Change

• South side of the University of Minnesota Transitway and 25th Avenue intersection closed for approximately two weeks;detour via University Avenue, to 23rd Avenue, to Sixth Street. Access to the Minnesota Parking Lot is maintained;Transitway remains open.
• Single lane of traffic in each direction on University Avenue between Ontario Street and 25th Avenue in place for approximately two weeks.
• Washington Avenue from Huron Boulevard to University Avenue closed through August.  Access Arby’s parking lot and drive-thru via Huron Boulevard. Access CSL Plasma via driveway on Huron Boulevard and driveway on University Avenue. 
• Huron Boulevard from just north of Delaware Street to University Avenue closed through August.

• South and east crosswalks closed at intersection of University Avenue and Huron Boulevard/23rd; use north or west crosswalks.
• South sidewalk of University Avenue between Huron Boulevard and Washington Avenue closed; use north sidewalk on University Avenue or south sidewalk on Washington Avenue.
• East sidewalk on Huron Boulevard between University Avenue and Washington Avenue closed; use west sidewalk.
• North, east, and west crosswalk at intersection of Huron Boulevard and Washington Avenue closed; use south crosswalk located approximately 30 feet to the south of the intersection or use temporary mid-block crossing between Ontario Street and Huron Boulevard.
• North sidewalk of Washington Avenue closed between Huron Boulevard and University Avenue; use south sidewalk.

Prospect Park- 29th Avenue to Emerald Street 

• Access to University Park Plaza at 2829 University available from westbound University Avenue to 29th Avenue; 29th is open only to local access to/from the parking lots at 2829 University.
• 29th Avenue closed at 4th Street; access to businesses and parking lots maintained.  Access parking lots and businesses on the west side of 29th Avenue from the west via 27th Avenue to Fourth Street.  Access parking lots and businesses on the east side of 29th Avenue from the east via Malcolm Avenue to Fourth Street.
• South side of the Malcolm Avenue and University Avenue intersection closed through mid-August; detour via Bedford Street to Orlin Avenue. -NEW
• All traffic shifted to the north side of University Avenue between St. Mary’s Avenue and Berry Street; two way traffic maintained; access to businesses maintained.
• Arthur Avenue closed to thru traffic to/from University Avenue; detour via Malcolm Avenue to Sidney Place.
• Clarence Avenue closed to thru traffic to/from University Avenue; detour via Bedford Street to Clarence Avenue.

• West crosswalk at the Malcolm Avenue and University Avenue intersection closed; use the east crosswalk. The east crosswalk is shifted around the perimeter of the construction zone. 
  
  

Please don't go around barriers into construction zones. Schedules are subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances! Check www.centralcorridor.org frequently for updates. 

Construction Activity Look Ahead

• South sidewalk reconstruction on Washington Avenue between Church Street and Harvard Street begins in mid-August. -NEW
• Sidewalk reconstruction on Washington Avenue between Oak Street and Huron Boulevard begins in mid-August. -NEW
• South side of Bedford Street and University Avenue intersection closes for approximately eight weeks beginning in mid-August; Bedford Street intersection will not close until the south side of the Malcolm Avenue intersection reopens.

Upcoming Public Meetings:  Construction Information Meeting

Construction Area                  Construction Hours

Utility Company Contacts

Questions, Comments, or Concerns?

• Do not bring questions or concerns to crews in the construction field. Crews work on specific tasks and will not know details on schedule and the most current information on plans and priorities. Call the construction hotline to leave a message and you will receive a call back to answer your question or learn more about the concern. All concerns and questions need to be received at the project management level to ensure issues are addressed.
• Sign up to receive construction updates via email!  Visit www.centralcorridor.org and enter your email address in the yellow box on the upper right corner of the page.

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