FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2/24/2016
Contacts: Colin Cox,
Hennepin County Transportation, 612-596-7426, Carolyn
Marinan, Communications, 612-348-5969
Media advisory
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.
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