Metro Transit: Buses To Carry Commuters During Weekend Light Rail Construction
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – The Hiawatha light-rail line will be shut down between Target Field and Franklin Avenue this weekend as crews perform construction and maintenance, Metro Transit says.
The line will close between those stations around 6:30 p.m. Friday and open again at 3:30 a.m. Monday.
During the downtime, Route 55 buses will be available to service commuters, according to John Siqveland, a Metro Transit spokesperson.
Siqveland said the buses will arrive more frequently than the trains, but the rides will take longer.
Light-rail trains elsewhere on the Hiawatha line will run on as usual, he said.
Here is a list of the stations that will close this weekend: Target Field, Warehouse District/Hennepin Avenue, Nicollet Mall, Government Plaza, Downtown East/Metrodome and Cedar-Riverside.
Siqveland said Northstar service will run as scheduled between Target Field and Big Lake. However, Northstar customers who connect with line via light rail should plan to take a Route 55 bus (or walk) to Target Field Station.
The scheduled construction comes as part of the Central Corridor light-rail project. Crews will be working east of the Metrodome, where the new line meets Hiawatha.
This weekend's closure is the second of five planned weekend closures. The remaining weekends are June 22-25, July 20-23 and Aug. 3-6, Siqveland said.
Commuters can learn of any changes to the weekend plan here. You can also follow Metro Transit on Twitter (@MetroTransitMN).
