Minneapolis Construction Update August 18 - 24, 2012

Inspiration for your next home project is just a few steps from the future Westgate Station of the Central Corridor at Art and Architecture near the corner of Bedford Street and University Avenue. Whether you know exactly what you need or want to browse the wide selection of architectural antiques, come ready to be amazed by many options there are to restore a home or add pizzazz to the everyday.  A bit of historic flare can be found within everyone’s project budget from iron skeleton keys to leaded glass windows. Business owner Jim Schmitt has an eye for salvaging both practical and over the top pieces that are sure to be conversation pieces.

Art and Architecture is located at 3338 University Avenue.  Parking is available in a small lot behind the building off Bedford Street. Please note that the south side of the intersection of Bedford and University closes on August 18th; access to south Bedford available from Franklin Avenue.

Construction Highlights for the Week of August 18 - 24

• Washington Avenue Bridge closes for one week beginning on Monday, August 20th. Details on detour and bus routes to plan ahead below. –NEW
• Northbound East River Parkway reopened; southbound East River Parkway reopens at the end of the week. -NEW
• South sidewalk of Washington Avenue closes mid-week between Church Street and Harvard Street. For details see below. -NEW
• Pedestrian path on north side of Washington Avenue between Oak Street and Ontario Street shifted slightly south to allow for sidewalk reconstruction for approximately one week; business access maintained. -NEW
• South side of the University of Minnesota Transitway and 25th Avenue intersection reopens on Thursday,  August 23rd. -NEW
• South side of the Malcolm Avenue and University Avenue intersection reopens on Saturday, August 18th. -NEW
• South side of the Bedford Street and University Avenue intersection closes Saturday, August 18th for approximately 2 months. -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 reopens August 27th. -NEW
• Hiawatha Bicycle Path between West Bank and downtown Minneapolis over I-35W detoured through 2013 Web Link (pdf)  

West Bank Area

• Washington Avenue Bridge and SE Cedar Avenue ramp close on Monday, August 20 for one week. See below for details. -NEW
• 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 3rd Street.

• No closures/detours.
   
  

Week Long Closure of Washington Avenue Bridge

• Westbound Detour: Fourth Street to southbound I-35W. 
• Eastbound Detour: Northbound I-35W, to University Avenue/Fourth Street exit, to eastbound University Avenue.

• No change; pedestrian deck on Washington Avenue Bridge will remain open during lower deck closure.

• Westbound buses:  Bus stop for Metro Transit and University of Minnesota Campus Connectors/Campus Circulators at Willey Hall will be closed; use stop located on the corner of 19th Avenue and Old Washington Avenue.
• Eastbound buses: Metro Transit bus stop at Blegen Hall will be closed; use stop located on the corner of 19th Avenue and Old Washington Avenue.
  

• Construction activities will occur during daytime and nighttime hours.
  
  

East Bank - Mississippi River to West of Harvard Street

• Northbound East River Parkway open to vehicles and bicycles. -NEW
• Southbound East River Parkway under the Washington Avenue Bridge closed, reopening scheduled for end of the week. Access to buildings and parking ramp maintained; bicycles must follow signed vehicle detour. -NEW
• Washington Avenue Bridge closed 12 a.m., Monday, August 20 to 6 a.m., Monday, August 27. See above for more details. -NEW

• Pedestrian paths on both sides of East River Parkway closed under the Washington Avenue Bridge; use alternate route.
• North sidewalk of Washington Mall closed from Pleasant Street to Church Street; detour via sidewalk on north side of Ford Hall.
• Sidewalk on the southwest corner of the Church Street and Washington Mall intersection closes mid-week; use north sidewalk. -NEW
• Crosswalks at intersection of Washington and Church Street closed; use pedestrian bridges near Coffman Memorial Union. A temporary north/south crossing will be installed mid-week east of the intersection. -NEW
• South sidewalk closed from Church Street to Harvard Street; access maintained to Molecular and Cellular Biology, Moos Tower, and Weaver-Densford Hall via the north/south Union Street crossing. -NEW
• The stairway to Moos Tower will close mid-week; use pedestrian ramp west of the stairway or tunnel. -NEW
• East and west crosswalks at Union Street and Washington Avenue intersection closed; temporary crosswalk added east of intersection on Union Street. Mid-week, the temporary crosswalk will move west of the intersection -NEW
• South sidewalk of Washington Avenue between Pleasant Street and Church Street closed.

Stadium Village - Harvard Street to Huron Boulevard

• 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, to Washington Avenue.
• Ontario Street closed at Washington Avenue until the start of fall semester.  

• Pedestrian path on north side of Washington Avenue between Oak Street and Ontario Street shifted slightly south to allow for sidewalk reconstruction for approximately one week.  Pedestrian access to all businesses will be maintained throughout this work to Stub and Herb’s, Sheffield’s Floral, Bona Vietnamese, Papa John’s, Campus Pizza, Tea Garden, and  CorePower Yoga from Washington Avenue.  Enter Raising Can’s Chicken via Ontario Street doorway. -NEW
• East and west crosswalk at intersection of Washington Avenue and Ontario Street closed. North and south crosswalks pushed back from the intersection about 20 feet.
• Eastbound bus stop at Ontario Street and University Avenue closed for approximately one week; 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 Minnesota Transitway and 25th Avenue intersection closed until Thursday, August 23rd; detour via University Avenue, to 23rd Avenue, to Sixth Street. Access to the Minnesota Parking Lot is maintained; Transitway remains open. -NEW
• Single lane of traffic in each direction on University Avenue between Ontario Street and 25th Avenue in place for approximately one week.
• 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. 

• North and east crosswalks closed at intersection of Huron Boulevard and Washington Avenue; detour via south or west crosswalk located approximately 30 feet pushed back from the intersection. -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 sidewalk of Washington Avenue closed between Huron Boulevard and University Avenue; use south sidewalk.
  

Prospect Park - 29th Avenue to Emerald Street

• South side of the Malcolm Avenue and University Avenue intersection reopens on Saturday, August 18th. -NEW
• South side of Bedford Street closed to traffic to/from University Avenue beginning Saturday, August 18th; detour via Malcolm Avenue to Orlin Avenue, or via Eustis Street to Franklin, or via Curfew Street to Franklin Avenue. -NEW
• 29th Avenue closed at 4th Street; 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. Access to University Park Plaza at 2829 University available from westbound University Avenue to 29th Avenue; 29th is open only to local access to/from the parking lots at 2829 University.
• All traffic shifted to the north side of University Avenue between St. Mary’s Avenue and Berry Street; two way traffic maintained and 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 Malcolm Street, to Orlin Avenue, to Seymour. -NEW

• East crosswalk at Malcolm Avenue and University Avenue intersection shifted around the perimeter of the construction zone.
   

• The eastbound bus stop on University and Bedford Street will close; use bus stops at Malcolm Avenue or near Berry Street.
  
  

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

• Ramp from northbound I-35W to East Bank reopens on August 27th.
• Intersection of Ontario Street and Washington Avenue reopens in late-August.
• Huron Boulevard reopens in late-August.
• Washington Avenue between Huron Boulevard and University Avenue reopens in late-August.
• Washington Avenue between Oak Street and Huron Boulevard reopens in mid-September. -NEW
  

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.

About the project: