 Click the image above to learn more about the commencement of Systems Integration Testing (SIT) activities.
Earlier this summer, The Green Line Extension project began the first of three phases of systems integration testing- the last major phase of project development before revenue operations. The testing phase will continue throughout 2025 and 2026 to ensure the system is safe, reliable, efficient and ready for you to ride in 2027. This fall, test trains will be running in the corridor. This means the warning systems at the 15 LRT grade crossings between Eden Prairie and Minneapolis will soon be fully active. Warning lights will flash, warning bells will ring, and gate arms will come down as trains cross road and trail intersections. Now is the time to start looking out for and observing those traffic warning systems. Please stay alert and observe the warning systems. Safety is everyone’s responsibility!
Construction Highlights
Minneapolis
General Note on Minneapolis after-hours construction activities:
The contractor will continue to schedule work that extends into evenings and weekends in Minneapolis. Work scheduled outside of normal working hours is time-sensitive – either on a critical path to reopening a road, trail, or sidewalk, or work that occurs within proximity to freight rail track but must be performed outside of freight rail operations windows. Community members can expect targeted after-hours work throughout the corridor in 2025. We will work to update community members on anticipated activities.
Upcoming:
- Weekend work: Work is expected to occur over the next two weekends in the rail corridor and adjacent work sites between West Lake Street and Bassett Creek Valley stations for activities such as those listed below. Weekend work has been authorized by the City of Minneapolis between the hours of 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM unless otherwise noted. Crews may be onsite and preparing for work activities before start times.
- Bassett Creek Valley and Bryn Mawr Station Areas: LRT track tamping activities, grading for trails and stormwater pond construction
- Bryn Mawr Station to West 21st Street Station Areas: soil grading for trails
- Cedar Lake Parkway/Burnham Road area: soil grading and form installation
- West Lake Street Station and Kenilworth Tunnel west segment: LRT track installation, tamping, soil grading
- Abbott and Chowen Avenues and Excelsior Boulevard: concrete sidewalk work
- West 21st Street at the railroad crossing will be in a single-lane configuration for concrete work starting early September. Oncoming traffic will take turns crossing the railroad tracks.
Ongoing:
- Expect periodic lane closures on 7th Street North and 6th Street North near Target Field for sidewalk work.
- Expect lane closures in both eastbound and westbound directions on 7th Street North at Lyndale Avenue for median work.
- Roadway and utility work continues in the Royalston Avenue/Farmers Market Station area:
- Vehicle traffic is limited to a single lane southbound on Border Avenue from Olson Memorial Highway to Holden Street North; eastbound on Holden Street North from Border Avenue to Royalston Avenue; and northbound on Royalston Avenue.
- There is no parking on Border Avenue, Holden Street, and Royalston Avenue during construction. Construction activities are anticipated to extend through the fall. Access to local businesses is being maintained throughout construction. Detour information is on the detour maps page.
- 2nd Avenue North is open in a modified two-way condition that will continue into August. Expect traffic impacts on Fremont Avenue North between 2nd Avenue North and Glenwood Avenue to finish sidewalk and landscaping work.
- A northbound outside lane closure on the Penn Avenue South I-394 bridge is in place for sidewalk, street lighting and accessible pedestrian ramp work. There is also a southbound inside lane closure on Penn Avenue just north of I-394 up to Mount View Avenue during this time.
- Cedar Lake Parkway is closed to vehicle traffic to conduct work across the rail corridor into the fall. Access to Burnham Road from Cedar Lake Parkway is also closed. The purpose of the closure is to complete utility, sidewalk, trail and roadway work. Trail access will be maintained in a temporary condition across the rail corridor until the final trail configuration is completed. Detour information is on the detour maps page.
- Areas near West Lake Street Station:
- The outside westbound lane and the north sidewalk on Excelsior Boulevard between Market Plaza and West 32nd Street are closed through August for new sidewalk and accessible pedestrian ramp construction. Local access for businesses and residents is being maintained throughout construction. Pedestrian detour information is on the detour maps page.
- The Chowen Avenue/West 31st Street/Abbott Avenue loop near West Lake Street Station is open in a one-way condition into the fall. Parking restrictions and sidewalk closures are effective on these roadways through fall.
- Parking restrictions are in place through fall on West 32nd Street for utility, road and sidewalk work.
Visit our website for more details and visuals of construction activities in Minneapolis.
St. Louis Park | Hopkins | Minnetonka | Eden Prairie
Upcoming:
- Lane restrictions will be in place at the intersection of Feltl Road and Smetana Road in Minnetonka beginning late summer or early fall to perform work on embankments in this area.
Ongoing:
- Light rail track maintenance activities are expected to occur in various locations throughout the rail corridor in Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, and Hopkins on weekends.
- Minor construction activities continue to occur throughout St. Louis Park, Hopkins, Minnetonka, and Eden Prairie. These activities are mostly confined to the rail corridor and station sites.
Visit our website for more details and visuals of construction activities in St. Louis Park, Hopkins, Minnetonka, and Eden Prairie.
Work By Others
Upcoming:
- The segment of the South Cedar Lake Regional Trail adjacent to the West Lake Street Station in Minneapolis will be shifted to a new temporary alignment utilizing West 31st Street within the next two weeks. This shift will allow for construction of the West Lake Street Station plaza and permanent South Cedar Lake Trail facility.
Ongoing:
- The segment of the Cedar Lake Regional Trail between Royalston Avenue and Azine Alley (just west of West River Parkway) is closed through this summer to complete work in the area beneath Royalston Avenue. Detour information is on the detour maps page.
- The segment of the Cedar Lake Trail east of Van White Memorial Boulevard remains closed and is anticipated to reopen in late 2025.
- Cedar Lake Trail from Bryn Mawr Station to Van White Memorial Boulevard is open.
- The Kenilworth Trail from the Midtown Greenway to Bryn Mawr Station in Minneapolis remains closed and is anticipated to reopen in late 2025.
Project staff share the community’s desire to reopen the remaining trails that are currently impacted by construction. The project office will continue to work with the contractor to open them as soon as it is safe to do so.
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