Street projects wind up as summer winds down

The season of orange cones and barrels is coming to an end. Here’s a run-down of completed, nearly completed and about-to-be projects.

Bike ride celebrates 29th Avenue repaving

Bicycle riders from around the neighborhood gathered at Audubon Park, 1320 29th Ave. NE, on Saturday, Aug. 17, to celebrate the completion of the repaving of 29th Avenue NE. 

Residents had pushed for a complete re-do of the thoroughfare, including narrower lanes to slow down or eliminate heavy truck traffic, and adding bike lanes and shade trees. 

However, Minneapolis Public Works determined other streets needed a full overhaul; they opted to repave and add lane markings and bollards to direct traffic. In addition to fresh asphalt, the street now has bold zebra striping near the park and Northeast Middle School intersections, and a protected, two-way bike lane on the north side of the street. 

Public Works employees were on hand to give out free ice cream, bicycle bells, reflectors and literature. After brief comments from Peter Bennett, transportation planner, Minneapolis Public Works, and Minneapolis City Council President Elliott Payne, riders mounted up for a four-mile loop around Northeast. 

Upcoming rides include Wednesday, Sept. 4, 6 p.m., when tips on cargo bikes will be shared, and Wednesday, Sept. 11, 6 p.m., biking with kids. Both rides originate at Audubon Park. On Monday, Sept. 16, cyclists are encouraged to meet Council Member Payne at Recovery Bike Shop, 2504 Central Ave. NE, for an 8 a.m. commute to downtown. 

Sidewalks coming to Hennepin Avenue and First Street

Hennepin County is nearing completion of its renovation of East Hennepin Avenue and First Street NE. Concrete sidewalks and pedestrian ramps will be poured within the first two weeks of September. Barricades will be up as the concrete hardens. The project, which runs from the river to Seventh and Eighth Streets SE, includes separated bike paths, transit priority lanes, wider sidewalks, green infrastructure additions and storm water improvements.

Parkway repaving ends

The repaving of St. Anthony Parkway ended the week of Aug. 26. Originally scheduled to be a two-week job, the project, which closed access to the parkway from Stinson Blvd. to Johnson Street was prolonged when unstable soils were found beneath the old blacktop. “We removed unsuitable soils and replaced them with approximately 7″-9″ inches of concrete. This will provide a solid foundation for the parkway’s asphalt,” said a city spokesperson. The roadway will be seal coated as planned in 2025. 

Key intersections along Broadway upgraded for ADA, visibility

Drivers along Broadway St. NE have navigated orange cones as four intersections received traffic signal improvements, pedestrian curb ramps which comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and in some cases, curb extensions for pedestrians. 

Broadway is a Hennepin County road, but the City of Minneapolis is leading the project at Washington Street NE (north section underway, includes curb extensions, south done), Monroe Street NE (north part complete, south underway), Fillmore Street NE (north done, south underway) and Buchanan Street NE (south done, north underway). The project website also promises improved traffic signal visibility and LED Lighting on traffic signal poles, along with Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS). Signals are yet to be installed on all the above intersections.

35W/Johnson Street project begins

Reconstruction of the Johnson Street exit from 35W has started. The ramp is closed, and drivers are diverted to the Stinson Blvd. exit. 

Look for improved sidewalk connectivity, upgraded pedestrian ramps and signals, closing of abikeway gap along Johnson Street, improved design and operation of the existing intersection, green stormwater infrastructure, and signal improvements, new signage and new pavement markings. 

In an email, David Juliff, construction engineer, wrote, “Final plans show a direct connection to the street from the trail in this location that was planned to be a future revision but the decision was made to construct it now. Restriping of this leg of Johnson Street NE is scheduled to occur sometime this fall.”

Weekly project update meetings are held Fridays, 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Caribou Coffee, 1730 New Brighton Blvd, in the Quarry Shopping Center. The project is expected to extend into 2025.