Minneapolis Construction Update July 28 - August 3, 2012

Quality, handbuilt, custom furniture is the focus at the Minneapolis studio of Willie Willette Works located on University Avenue in Prospect Park. The craftsmen and women of this small studio make art of the everyday furniture.  Check out some of their finished pieces at  www.WillieWilletteWorks.com. The Willie Willette Works studio is located at 3338 University Ave. SE in Minneapolis.

Construction Highlights for the Week of July 28 - August 3

• Overnight lane closures on the Washington Avenue Bridge are scheduled to occur: Monday, July 30 from 9:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. the westbound lane will be closed. Tuesday, July 31 from 9:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. the eastbound lane will be closed. -NEW
• Washington Avenue doorways at Union Street to the University of Minnesota Transportation and Safety building closed through the beginning of the week. -NEW
• North sidewalk of Washington Avenue between Union Street and Harvard Street reopens beginning of the week; south sidewalk closes once north side is reopened. -NEW
• Intersection of Harvard Street and Washington Avenue reopens at the end of the week. -NEW
• South sidewalk of University Avenue between Ontario Street and Huron Boulevard closed from 3 p.m. Monday, July 30 to 5 a.m. Tuesday, July 31. -NEW
• 25th Avenue and the University of Minnesota Transitway intersection closes for approximately two weeks in on Wednesday, August 1. The pedestrian/bike path on the north side of the transitway will not be impacted. -NEW
• Beginning on Wednesday, August 1, access to University Park Plaza, 2829 University Ave., will be available from westbound University Avenue. -NEW
  

Other Road Construction in the Minneapolis Area

I-35W and Washington Avenue Interchange Area - No Change 

• Ramp from northbound I-35W to University of Minnesota East Bank closed until end of summer to allow for installation of a fully signalized intersection.
• Hiawatha Bicycle Path between West Bank and downtown Minneapolis over I-35W detoured through 2013 Web Link (pdf)  

West Bank Area- No Change  

• Westbound traffic from East Bank to downtown continues to turn right on northeast Cedar Avenue Ramp and through to the northwest Cedar Avenue Ramp to access Third Street.
  

• No closures/detours.

Overnight Lane Closures on Washington Avenue Bridge

• For westbound lane closure: from East Bank, ramp to Washington Avenue Bridge closed from Pleasant Street; detour to West Bank via westbound Fourth Street to southbound I-35W.
• For the eastbound lane closure: from West Bank, eastbound Washington Avenue closed at Cedar Avenue;  detour via northbound I-35W to University Avenue/Fourth Street exit, to eastbound University Avenue.

• No changes to sidewalk access; the pedestrian deck on Washington Avenue Bridge will remain open during vehicle deck lane closures.

• For the westbound lane closure: Metro Transit bus stop at Willey Hall will be closed; use 19th Avenue/Washington Avenue bus stop.
• For the eastbound lane closure: Metro Transit bus stop at Blegen Hall will be closed; use 19th Avenue/Washington Avenue bus stop.
• These lane closures are outside of operating hours for the University of Minnesota Campus Connectors and Campus Circulators; service will not be impacted.

• Construction activities will occur during nighttime hours.
  

East Bank– Mississippi River to West of Harvard Street

• East River Parkway under the Washington Avenue Bridge closed through August. Access to buildings and parking ramp will be maintained, bicycles must follow signed vehicle detour.

• Washington Avenue doorways to the University of Minnesota Transportation and Safety building closed through beginning of the week; enter/exit building via Union Street (through the parking ramp driveway) or Harvard Street. -NEW
• North sidewalk of Washington Avenue between Union Street and Harvard Street reopens beginning of the week; south sidewalk closes once north side has reopened. -NEW
• Crosswalks at Union Street and Washington Avenue intersection closed; temporary crosswalks added north of intersection on Union Street and near the middle of the intersection. -NEW
• Pedestrian path on the west side of East River Parkway closed through August; pedestrians detour around construction via use of east sidewalk.
• North sidewalk of Washington Avenue between Pleasant Street and Amundson Hall closed; use south sidewalk or sidewalk on the north side of Ford Hall and Amundson Hall.
• South sidewalk of Washington Avenue between Pleasant Street and Church Street closed.
• Washington Avenue north/south crossings at Church Street closed; use pedestrian bridges near Coffman Memorial Union. ADA access available via west pedestrian bridge.
   

Stadium Village- Harvard Street to Huron Boulevard 

• Intersection of Harvard Street and Washington Avenue closed through the end of the week; detour via Delaware Street, Walnut Street and Beacon Street. -NEW
• Washington Avenue closed between Oak Street and Huron Boulevard through mid-September. Access to the Valu Liquor  parking lot is available from University Avenue through the Burger King parking lot and westbound on Washington Avenue. -NEW
• Ontario Street closed at Washington Avenue to through traffic; local access on Ontario Street closed for approximately three weeks.

• Sidewalk on the southeast corner of the Harvard Street and Washington Avenue intersection detoured through the beginning of the week; pedestrians are detoured around the construction zone.
• Sidewalk on the southwest corner of the Harvard Street and Washington Avenue intersection detoured; pedestrians are detoured around the construction zone.
• East crosswalk at intersection of Washington Avenue and Ontario Street closed. North and south crosswalks pushed back from the intersection about 20 feet.
• The eastbound bus stop at Ontario Street and University Avenue closed for approximately two weeks while work occurs on the south side of University; the bus stop relocated to the southwest corner of Oak Street and University Avenue.
  

Stadium Village- University Avenue, Huron Boulevard and 23rd Avenue

• South side of the University of MN Transitway and 25th Avenue intersection closes on Wednesday, August 1 for approximately three weeks; detour via University Avenue to 23rd Avenue, to Sixth Street. Access to the Minnesota Parking Lot will be maintained. The Transitway will remain open. -NEW
• Single lane of traffic in each direction on University Avenue between Ontario Street and 25th Avenue in place for approximately three weeks.
• Washington Avenue from Huron Boulevard to University Avenue closed through August.  Access Arby’s parking lot and   drive-thru via Huron Boulevard. Access CSL Plasma via driveway on Huron Boulevard and driveway on University Avenue. 
• Huron Boulevard from just north of Delaware Street to University Avenue closed through August. 

• South sidewalk of University Avenue between Ontario Street and Huron Boulevard closed from 3 p.m. Monday, July 30 to 5 a.m. Tuesday, July 31. -NEW
• South and east crosswalks closed at intersection of University Avenue and Huron Boulevard/23rd; use north or west crosswalks.
• South sidewalk of University Avenue between Huron Boulevard and Washington Avenue closed; use north sidewalk on   University Avenue or south sidewalk on Washington  Avenue.
• East sidewalk on Huron Boulevard between University Avenue and Washington Avenue closed; use west sidewalk.
• North, east and west crosswalk at intersection of Huron Boulevard and Washington Avenue closed; use south crosswalk located approximately 30 feet to the south of the intersection or use temporary mid-block crossing between Ontario Street and Huron Boulevard.
• North sidewalk of Washington Avenue closed between Huron Boulevard and University Avenue; use south sidewalk.
  

Prospect Park-  

• Beginning on Wednesday, August 1, access to University Park Plaza, 2829 University, will be available from westbound University Avenue. -NEW
• South side of the Malcolm Avenue and University Avenue intersection closed through early August; detour via Bedford Street to Orlin Avenue.
• All traffic shifted to the north side of University Avenue between St. Mary’s Avenue and Berry Street; two way traffic maintained; access to businesses maintained.
• Arthur Avenue closed to thru traffic to/from University Avenue; detour via Malcolm Avenue to Sidney Place.
• Clarence Avenue closed to thru traffic to/from University Avenue; detour via Bedford Street to Clarence Avenue.
• 29th Avenue closed; access to businesses and parking lots maintained.  Access parking lots and businesses on the west side of 29th Avenue from the west via 27th Avenue to Fourth Street.  Access parking lots and businesses on the east side of 29th Avenue from the east via Malcolm Avenue to Fourth Street.

• West crosswalk at the Malcolm Avenue and University Avenue intersection closed; use the east crosswalk. The east crosswalk is shifted around the perimeter of the construction zone. 
  
  

Please don't go around barriers into construction zones. Schedules are subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances! Check www.centralcorridor.org frequently for updates. 

Construction Activity Look Ahead

• South side of Bedford Street and University Avenue intersection closes for approximately eight weeks beginning in early August;  Bedford Street intersection will not close until the south side of the Malcolm Avenue intersection reopens.
  

Upcoming Public Meetings:  Construction Information Meeting

Construction Area                  Construction Hours

Utility Company Contacts

Questions, Comments, or Concerns?

• Do not bring questions or concerns to crews in the construction field. Crews work on specific tasks and will not know details on schedule and the most current information on plans and priorities. Call the construction hotline to leave a message and you will receive a call back to answer your question or learn more about the concern. All concerns and questions need to be received at the project management level to ensure issues are addressed.
• Sign up to receive construction updates via email!  Visit www.centralcorridor.org and enter your email address in the yellow box on the upper right corner of the page.

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