Media advisory: Westbound Washington Avenue closes for road work

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2/24/2016

Contacts: Colin Cox, Hennepin County Transportation, 612-596-7426,
Carolyn Marinan, Communications, 612-348-5969

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Media advisory

Westbound Washington Avenue closes for road work

Starting Tuesday, March 1, westbound lanes of Washington Avenue (County Road 152) in downtown Minneapolis will be closed from Second Avenue South to Hennepin Avenue to begin upfront utility relocation work associated with Hennepin County’s road reconstruction project.

Utility crews will be working in this area with a detour in place until later this summer, when they will move further east on Washington Avenue to complete their work. This utility relocation work is to be completed in 2016.

Following immediately behind the utility crews, Hennepin County will be reconstructing Washington Avenue between Hennepin Avenue and Fifth Avenue South. The project will improve the driving surface, improve safety and add features, such as protected bike lanes and enhanced pedestrian spaces. County work is slated to begin in summer 2016 and be complete in 2017.

This detour for motorists and bicyclists will follow Second Avenue South, Third Street South, Hennepin Avenue and then return to Washington Avenue. There is no detour for pedestrians or eastbound Washington Avenue. A map of the detour is available on the Washington Avenue reconstruction project webpage, www.hennepin.us/washingtonavenue.

Hennepin County, the City of Minneapolis and Xcel Energy developed a traffic plan to mitigate impacts and maximize traffic flow around the closure. Signs to direct road users will be posted and traffic control agents will assist at key intersections during peak traffic hours.

More information about the county’s reconstruction project can be found at www.hennepin.us/washingtonavenue.

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Look for more news on the Hennepin County website at www.hennepin.us/news.