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Web: swlrt.org
Twitter: @SouthwestLRT
Construction Hotline: 612-373-3933
Weekly Construction Highlight: 2021 Year-End Review
Thank you to our corridor neighbors for engaging us on construction issues and watching construction progress! We are looking forward to another productive year in 2022 as we advance project construction.
 The entire Green Line Extension corridor saw construction in 2021. Over 200,000 cubic yards of concrete have been placed on the project along with nearly 95 miles of piles installed. Watch the video above to see all the progress that has been made over this past year.
Town Center Station
From site prep to retaining walls and then station construction the Town Center Station emerged this year.
 Highlights of 2021:
- Roadways and ramps were reopened on Flying Cloud Drive, Technology Drive, Town Center Place, and Prairie Center Drive.
- All of Eden Prairie’s four stations and five bridges are in advanced stages of construction.
- Track is in place between SouthWest Station and Nine Mile Bridge.
- Construction is finished or underway on all of the 39 retaining walls in Eden Prairie, measuring over two miles in length.
- The tunnel under Highway 62 is structurally complete and trackwork is underway.
Upcoming in 2022:
- Ongoing track work and finishing details.
- Systems work and installation of Traction Power Substations (TPSS) in Eden Prairie.
- West 70th Street will close to advance LRT construction.
- There will be closures of the eastbound Highway 212 off-ramp to Prairie Center Drive, and the westbound Highway 212 off-ramp to Shady Oak Road to advance civil construction.
Visit our website for more details and visuals of construction activities in Eden Prairie.
Minnetonka-Hopkins LRT Bridge
This bridge will carry LRT passengers over freight rail and challenging soils.
 Highlights of 2021:
- The Smetana roadway bridge was completed and Smetana Road fully reopened.
- Two pedestrian underpasses are under construction in Opus Park and third underpass is complete.
- Work advanced on the longest bridge in the project, the Minnetonka-Hopkins LRT Bridge, as 29 piers were finished and bridge beams installed over the freight railroad line, between Smetana Road and K-Tel Drive.
- Opus Station is in advanced stages of construction.
- 20 retaining walls, measuring nearly one mile in length between Highway 62 and Smetana Road have been constructed or are under construction.
Upcoming in 2022:
- Bridge decking, sidewalks and trackwork will continue on the Minnetonka-Hopkins LRT Bridge.
- A cul-de-sac will be added to Yellow Circle Drive near East Bren Road. Red Circle Drive will be restored.
- Road closures will occur on East Bren Road and Green Circle Drive. Dates and durations will be announced.
- Feltl Road is expected to reopen in late 2022 when the roadway bridge is completed.
- The Systems contractor will begin work on traction power substations (TPSS) in Minnetonka.
Visit our website for more details and visuals of construction activities in Minnetonka.
Excelsior LRT Bridge
When completed this LRT bridge will span 400 feet to cross over Excelsior Boulevard and the freight rail tracks.
 Highlights of 2021:
- Crews completed the installation of light rail track between the Hopkins Depot and 11th
- Light rail track has been installed across 5thAvenue, 8thAvenue and 11th Avenue.
- Downtown Hopkins Station area architectural and civil construction is nearly complete.
- The primary structure of the Blake Road regional trail underpass was completed, and the roadway reopened to traffic.
- Excelsior Boulevard reopened to west bound traffic after a season long closure of westbound travel lanes to progress the Excelsior Boulevard LRT Bridge construction.
Upcoming in 2022:
- Work to complete the Blake Road regional trail underpass will continue. After additional closures to further construction of the LRT and freight rail track, Blake Road will fully reopen to traffic.
- Work to advance the Excelsior LRT Bridge will be ongoing. There will be closure of eastbound lanes on Excelsior Boulevard during the 2022 season.
- The Systems contractor will begin work between Hopkins Depot and 11th
- The Minnesota River Bluffs Trail segment between the Hopkins Depot and 11th Avenue is scheduled to reopen in early 2022 upon completion of turn over activities.
Visit our website for more details and visuals of construction activities in Hopkins.
Beltline Station and Regional Trail Bridge
Both structures took shape over the past year. Crews can be seen advancing the station.
 Highlights of 2021:
- The new pedestrian and freight rail bridges over Minnehaha Creek were completed. The third structure, the LRT bridge, is nearly complete with beam setting coming in 2022.
- The freight rail and trail bridges over Louisiana Avenue were completed and LRT bridge work advanced.
- Crews made significant progress on the pedestrian underpass to the Louisiana Station.
- LRT bridge installation over Highway 100 was completed.
Upcoming in 2022:
- Ongoing work in the Louisiana Avenue area to build the station, complete the LRT bridge, freight rail connection, and pedestrian underpass. Some traffic impacts are to be expected.
- LRT trackwork will be installed across both Wooddale Avenue and Beltline Boulevard. Roadway closures are expected.
- The South Cedar Lake Trail segment between Wooddale Avenue and Beltline Boulevard is scheduled to reopen in early 2022 upon completion of necessary turn over activities.
Visit our website for more details and visuals of construction activities in St. Louis Park.
Future Location of the Bassett Creek Valley Station
Corridor Protection Wall construction is well underway. Construction of the new Luce Line Pedestrian Bridge in this area has also begun.
 Highlights of 2021:
- Excavation progressed and crews began to poor concrete for the structure of the LRT tunnel in the Kenilworth corridor.
- Freight rail work to update tracks was completed. Tie work to be done next year.
- The deck for LRT bridge over the Cedar Lake Channel was completed.
- All the drilled shafts that support the Corridor Protection Wall between Bryn Mawr Station and Glenwood Avenue were completed.
Upcoming in 2022:
- Cedar Lake Parkway will close in early 2022 in order to construct the Kenilworth LRT Tunnel through that segment of the corridor. More details to follow in January.
- Construction will advance on all five Minneapolis stations.
- Construction is slated to begin on the third and final bridge structure over the Cedar Lake Channel, to establish the regional trail bridge.
- Work will continue to advance on the Glenwood Avenue roadway and LRT bridge structures.
- Holden Street and Border Avenue will be reconstructed near the Royalston Avenue/Farmers Market Station.
Visit our website for more details and visuals of construction activities in Minneapolis.
Trail Detours: Minnesota River Bluffs, South Cedar Lake Parkway, Kenilworth, Cedar Lake Trail
Eden Prairie Sidewalk and Roadway Detours: Upcoming Highway 212
Minnetonka Roadway Detours: Opus area: Yellow Circle, Red Circle, Feltl Road
Minneapolis Roadway Detours: Glenwood Avenue, Royalston Avenue
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