Commuters Struggling With Construction In Downtown Minneapolis
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Driving around downtown Minneapolis can be a real test of your patience these days, because construction season is in full bloom.
The downtown Minneapolis construction projects are taking their toll on the rest of the metro, whether you're coming in from Richfield, Eden Prairie or across town. And commuter reactions range from very annoyed to very Minnesotan.
"I'm just happy that it's nice out," Jackson Sattervall said.
"It could be worse I guess," Brook Dahler observed.
A project on Marquette Avenue is causing delays coming from south Minneapolis or the west metro off of Interstate 394.
One of the biggest projects is along one of the biggest thoroughfares, Hennepin Avenue. Lanes are closed from 12th to 7th streets. Some piece of Hennepin will be closed in segments for the next three years. They're working on changing up the bike lanes and widening the sidewalks while still keeping it four lanes of car traffic.
Don Elwood, of Minneapolis Public Works, told WCCO's Christiane Cordero that drivers are going to see much improved traffic operations once the construction is finished.
"On 8th, it's gonna be clear where they should be. On Hennepin, same thing -- clear where they should be. Bikes will be off the roads," Elwood said.
There is also construction on 8th Street between Hennepin and Chicago, to update the traffic signals, lighting, and storm water infrastructure; Minneapolis says that work will be substantially complete by this November.
Certain lanes will start to reopen during construction. Elwood suggests checking the city's construction website with week-to-week updates. His team is set to finish the 10th Avenue bridge next year, and both Hennepin and 4th Street will be done in 2020, just in time to revisit the to-do list again.
"We are constantly making things better, both public sector and private sector. We're putting investment into our transportation network. So you can expect we're going to be constantly making upgrades," Elwood said.
In the meantime, drivers coming in from all directions will have to deal with delays. The general advice is to give yourself plenty of time. A driver from Eden Prairie says she gives herself about an hour to get downtown.
One short-term closure to be aware of: Interstate 35W will be closed in both directions between Interstate 94 and Highway 280 over the weekend.
For information on current construction projects, visit MnDOT's website.
