2023 was a busy, construction-filled year for the METRO B Line project and the communities along the eastern half of the B Line corridor. In total, 15 future B Line stations were constructed during 2023 in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Additionally, through the Lake Street Improvements project, coordinated between Metro Transit, Hennepin County, and the City of Minneapolis:
- Nearly 1.5 miles of Lake Street were resurfaced
- A four-to-three lane conversion with new left-turn lanes was implemented to reduce severe crashes and make it easier for people walking and rolling to cross Lake Street
- A new, westbound bus-only lane was installed along Lake Street between the Mississippi River and 27th Avenue to improve transit speed and reliability for one of the busiest transit routes in the region
- More than 40 sidewalk corners were reconstructed to improve pedestrian accessibility
- Significant improvements were made to traffic signals at 10 intersections, and minor improvements were made at 12 more
B Line project staff would like to thank the communities along the future B Line route for their resilience and patience during the 2023 construction season.
2024 Construction
The 2024 construction season could begin as early as April, depending on weather conditions. Some pre-construction work may happen even sooner.
B Line construction in 2024 will occur along Lake Street and Lagoon Avenue between France and Hiawatha avenues.
Construction will be split into two phases. Phase 1 will start in the spring and will be between 22nd Ave. and Blaisdell Avenue.
Phase 2 will start in the summer and will be between Blaisdell and France avenues.
Work in the corridor will include station construction, utility work, pavement and intersection improvements, traffic signal changes, and resurfacing of the pavement on Lake Street.
When an area is under construction, Lake Street will be partially closed to vehicle traffic in stages, with one side of the street being worked on at a time. At least one driving lane in each direction will be open throughout construction.
Sidewalks will remain open on at least one side of the street, and access will be maintained to homes and businesses. Parking on Lake Street may be restricted in some areas.
More detailed information, including images of what the closures will look like, is available on the B Line Construction webpage.
Metro Transit outreach staff will be canvassing the 2024 construction area throughout the winter and early spring to connect with businesses and residents along the route to share project information before the start of the construction season.
The future METRO B Line stations constructed in 2023 are now serving Route 21 customers east of Hiawatha Avenue.
In mid-December, Metro Transit became responsible for maintaining the newly opened stations east of Hiawatha Avenue.
The shelters at the new stations feature light and heat for customers. Crews continue working to install and activate other station features, such as real-time signs, security cameras, and emergency telephones.
Any questions about construction can be directed to our construction hotline at 651-356-6995 or to the project email at BLine@metrotransit.org.
More information on the B Line project can be found on the project website.
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