Construction Update

Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, and Hopkins Highlights

Minor construction activities continue to occur throughout the cities of Eden Prairie, Minnetonka and Hopkins. These activities are mostly confined to the rail corridor and station sites. If there are significant impacts expected to roadway or trail users, updates will be provided in this section.

Ongoing:

• MnDOT is currently performing work in Hopkins around the intersections of Highway 169 and Excelsior Boulevard. This work is expected to continue throughout the summer. More details about this work can be found at the MnDOT project’s website: https://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/hwy169hopkins/index.html

Ongoing:

• The sidewalk on the west side of Wooddale Avenue is closed for utility work. Use the sidewalk on the east side of Wooddale Avenue.
• Lane closures are in place during overnight hours on TH 100 between Highway 7 and Excelsior Boulevard through July 20 for bridge work.
• The lane closure on West 35th Street near the intersection with Yosemite Avenue to complete sidewalk work is in place through mid-July.
• The westbound lane on Oxford Street between Edgewood Avenue and Louisiana Avenue is narrowed to accommodate site work at the station (the parking lane is closed).

West Lake Street to West 21st Street

Upcoming:

• Construction activities on the West Lake Street bridge are expected to continue on Saturdays through the rest of the summer. Those activities are described below.
• Lane closures near the intersection of Excelsior Boulevard and West 32nd Street are anticipated to begin in July to complete sidewalk and pedestrian ramp work.

• Lane closures are in place on West Lake Street between Chowen Avenue and Market Street. Traffic impacts are expected throughout the summer. Crews are performing sidewalk safety enhancements and station entrance work at the West Lake Street Station area. Once complete, there will be a barrier separating road traffic and sidewalk users. There is an associated detour for pedestrians. See Minneapolis detour maps.
  • The area around the West Lake Street Station has multiple concurrent construction activities taking place in 2024. The METRO B Line bus rapid transit (BRT) project construction is ongoing along West Lake Street and a small portion of Excelsior Boulevard in 2024. Hennepin County is also reconstructing parts of Minnetonka Boulevard and County Road 25. Expect traffic impacts throughout the majority of 2024, especially during peak commuting hours.
• There continues to be significant construction at the Kenilworth LRT tunnel. The construction is primarily focused on excavation, cutting of metal sheets, and concrete placement as weather permits. Truck transport and maintenance work on the freight rail tracks may cause noticeable noise and some occasional vibration to nearby residents.
• Pumps and generators will run overnight periodically in various parts of the construction corridor, especially at the Kenilworth LRT tunnel site. Pumps are used to manage water, and generators are used to power pumps and other equipment.
• West 21st Street between Upton Avenue South and Thomas Avenue South is in a single lane configuration into the fall.

Bryn Mawr Station to Glenwood Ave
 

• Lane closures on North 6th Avenue between North 7th Street and North 5th Street are anticipated in July to complete plinth concrete pours on the bridge.

• Fremont Avenue North between 2nd Avenue North and Glenwood Avenue, inclusive of the intersection of Glenwood Ave and Fremont Ave N, is closed into the fall for roadway reconstruction and utility work. See Minneapolis detour maps.
• The intersection of Royalston Avenue and Holden Street is closed for LRT track work into fall 2024.
• Royalston Avenue between 5th Avenue North and Border Avenue is closed for utility and road reconstruction work into fall 2024. See Minneapolis detour maps.

Note: The Met Council is in process of turning over maintenance of the South Cedar Lake Trail and Minnesota River Bluffs Trail to Three Rivers Park District (TRPD). Inspections and minor work may occur as this process continues. During this period of transition, trail users can continue to call the Green Line Extension LRT Project construction hotline at 612-373-3933 to ask questions or report concerns about trail conditions. Staff will connect with TRPD staff to follow up on these issues.

Ongoing:

• Trails in the Opus area in Minnetonka are open.
• The Minnesota River Bluffs Trail between Shady Oak Road in Minnetonka and Excelsior Boulevard in Hopkins is open.
• The South Cedar Lake Trail between Excelsior Boulevard in Hopkins and the Midtown Greenway in Minneapolis is open.
• South Cedar Lake Trail users between Chowen Avenue South and the Midtown Greenway in Minneapolis may experience brief delays to accommodate adjacent construction. The trail remains open in a temporary condition and flaggers may be present. Trail users may experience construction traffic crossing the trail in this area – please use caution.
• The Kenilworth Trail from the Midtown Greenway to Bryn Mawr Station remains closed and is anticipated to reopen in 2025. 
• Cedar Lake Regional Trail work near Bryn Mawr Station is anticipated through July. Trail access is being maintained. Follow posted signage.
• The segment of the Cedar Lake Trail from the Bryn Mawr Station area to Van White Boulevard is open. Trail users may experience construction traffic crossing the trail near the station – please use caution.
• The segment of the Cedar Lake Trail east of Van White Memorial Boulevard is anticipated to reopen in 2025.
• The Luce Line Regional Trail bridge that crosses the freight rail corridor connecting Bryn Mawr Meadows Park with the Bassett Creek Valley Station area is closed and is scheduled to reopen in 2025.
• The segment of the Cedar Lake Regional Trail between Royalston Avenue and Azine Alley (just west of West River Parkway) is closed and is anticipated to reopen in September. Activities at this location include sewer utility work, trail reconstruction and improvements, and the relocation of tracks that are used for the staging of Northstar commuter rail cars. Unfortunately, the space required for the different work activities does not allow for the trail to remain open, even in a narrowed condition. The detour will connect into the existing detour of the Cedar Lake Trail and utilize dedicated bike facilities on Hennepin Avenue to connect back to the trail at Azine Alley just west of West River Parkway. There are no public access points to the trail between Azine Alley and Royalston Avenue.

Project staff share the community’s desire to see the trails reopen as soon as possible. The project office will continue to work with the contractor to improve on these opening dates.