Contractors follow safety protocols to protect against COVID-19
Large wastewater conveyance pipes and construction vehicles line the landscape near the popular Minnehaha Regional Park in south Minneapolis — the site of a large, multi-year sewer improvement project.
Metropolitan Council Environmental Services is rehabilitating an aging sewer tunnel beneath Minnehaha Creek and upgrading other wastewater infrastructure in the area. For area residents and park visitors, it’ll mean some inconveniences and disruptions.
Longer term, however, Met Council officials say needed repairs will ensure the structural integrity and reliability of the sewer infrastructure and help protect the health of the creek and groundwater system.
Stay informed via newsletter, text updates
Construction is taking place on the north side of East Minnehaha Parkway, from just west of the creek and extending across Hiawatha Avenue to the roundabout on Minnehaha Avenue.
“Given the scale and longevity of this project, we want to make sure residents and park users have opportunities to keep track of construction progress and status,” said Jeannine Clancy, Assistant General Manager of Technical Services for Environmental Services.
“We encourage residents to subscribe to electronic newsletter or text updates and watch for regular online project updates. Email and phone contacts are also available for residents who have questions or concerns,” she said.
Expect some inconveniences if you visit the park
A section of the Hiawatha Bicycle Trail between the Minnehaha Creek Trail and Minnehaha Parkway will be closed throughout construction until the fall of 2021. Bicycle detour signs are posted along the trail. Watch a video of the trail detour.
Inconveniences could also come in the form of noise, lights, nuisance odor releases, tree removals, construction vehicle traffic and equipment parking, lane shifts and temporary closures of the Hiawatha Avenue intersection, and parking restrictions on the Hiawatha Avenue frontage road.
Regional wastewater system protects public health and the environment
The region’s wastewater collection and treatment system is a vast network of pipes and plants that convey and treat about 250 million gallons of wastewater each day from more than 100 metro-area communities.
This particular segment of regional sanitary sewer collects wastewater from Edina, Richfield, and portions of south Minneapolis enroute to the Metropolitan Wastewater Treatment Plant in Saint Paul.
The system operates 24 hours a day and seven days a week to protect and preserve water quality in the region.
Information on other 2020 regional sanitary sewer construction projects