Weekly Construction Update

There are two Eden Prairie maps, each illustrating where construction crews are working. General activities are highlighted for your convenience. Please refer to text descriptions in this section for more details on major elements being constructed in specific areas.

SouthWest Station to Eden Prairie Town Center Station

Construction overview:

At the SouthWest Station, we are constructing a new park-and-ride ramp adjacent to the existing ramp and a combined bus and LRT station. Moving east, the Prairie Center Drive LRT Bridge extends from the SouthWest Station area over Technology Drive and Prairie Center Drive. Moving east, LRT will enter the Eden Prairie Town Center Station area.

LRT Bridge at I-494 to Shady Oak Road

Construction overview:

In this portion of Eden Prairie, an LRT bridge will cross over I-494, parallel to Flying Cloud Drive; this bridge is almost complete. Flying Cloud Drive is being reconstructed and LRT track installed. LRT will travel on bridges over Flying Cloud Drive and Nine Mile Creek. The Golden Triangle Station is being constructed as well as an LRT bridge over Shady Oak Road and Highway 212.

Upcoming:

• Expect inside lane closure of westbound Highway 62 from May 23 - 24, and again from May 30 – June 1, for permanent roadway barrier installation.

Ongoing:  

• The entrance ramp from Valley View Road to eastbound Highway 212 is closed for grading and utility work. This closure is expected to last until mid-June. See Eden Prairie detour maps.
• The westbound Highway 212 off-ramp to Shady Oak Road is closed for LRT construction. It is expected to reopen in fall of 2022. See Eden Prairie detour maps.
• West 70th Street is closed until early to mid-summer to complete LRT construction. See Eden Prairie detour maps.

This Minnetonka map illustrates where construction crews are working. General activities are highlighted for your convenience. Please refer to text descriptions in this section for more details on major elements being constructed in specific areas.

City West Station in Eden Prairie to Shady Oak Station in Hopkins

Construction overview:
The City West Station area continues with preparation work for retaining walls. Major elements in this segment include an LRT tunnel under Highway 62, the Opus Station, many large retaining walls, the Smetana/Feltl roadway bridges over LRT and the Hopkins/Minnetonka LRT Bridge ending at the Shady Oak Road Station.

Ongoing: 

• The Red-to-Yellow Circle connection in Opus Park has been reduced to one lane to complete construction underneath the roadway. This work is expected to last through May.
• Part of Red Circle Drive remains closed to westbound traffic as the second phase of the nearby pedestrian underpass construction continues. Drivers exiting Opus Park along Bren Road East can access Red Circle Drive and Shady Oak Road. Yellow Circle Drive is temporarily configured as a two-way road during this phase of construction to accommodate through traffic and local businesses. See Minnetonka detour maps.
• Feltl Road is closed at Smetana Road through the fall as workers complete the roadway bridge. See Minnetonka detour maps.
• Crews continue to work on the Minnetonka-Hopkins LRT bridge.  

This Hopkins map illustrates where construction crews are working. General activities are highlighted for your convenience. Please refer to text descriptions in this section for more details on major elements being constructed in specific areas.

Construction overview:

There are three stations in Hopkins: Shady Oak Road, Downtown Hopkins and Blake Road. Major structures in Hopkins include an LRT bridge over Excelsior and a regional trail underpass at Blake Road. In addition to LRT track construction there is also freight rail and regional trail work in the area. There are multiple LRT and freight railroad crossings at roadways.

Upcoming:  

• 5^th Avenue will be closed at the rail crossing for five days in June exact timing will follow . See Hopkins detour maps.
• A full closure of Blake Road is expected to begin in early June. This closure is expected to last about six weeks.

Ongoing: 

• Downtown Hopkins Station remains under construction.
• Excelsior Boulevard is closed to eastbound traffic until the fall while crews advance LRT bridge construction over the roadway. See Hopkins detour maps.

This St. Louis Park map illustrates where construction crews are working. General activities are highlighted for your convenience. Please refer to text descriptions in this section for more details on major elements being constructed in specific areas.

Construction overview:

Like in Hopkins, the project includes the construction of LRT track, freight rail track, and the regional trail. There are also three stations in St. Louis Park: Louisiana Avenue, Wooddale Avenue and Beltline Boulevard. Structures in this area include LRT and freight rail bridges over Louisiana Avenue, a connection between freight lines, a pedestrian/trail underpass east of Louisiana Avenue, freight, LRT and trail bridges over Minnehaha Creek, a regional trail underpass at Wooddale Avenue, freight, LRT and trail bridges over Highway 100 and a regional trail bridge crossing over Beltline Boulevard.

Upcoming: 

• Expect traffic impacts on Highway 100 in early summer for bridge painting.
• The Highway 7 service road between Beltline Boulevard and Lynn Avenue is expected to close on May 25 for three to four weeks.
• Lane closures on Highway 7 are expected to start on May 31 and last for three to four weeks. Access to Monterey Avenue and Lynn Avenue will be eliminated. Temporary access to local businesses will be provided from Beltline via the frontage road. See St. Louis Park detour map.
• Ottawa Avenue South is expected to close north of MN Highway 7 for three weeks beginning on June 2. See St. Louis Park detour map.

Ongoing: 

• Earlier construction hours starting at 7:00 AM have been authorized for Saturdays between the Louisiana Avenue and Wooddale Avenue station areas.
• Retaining wall construction is underway at the Louisiana Avenue Station area. Expect pile-driving activities through 2022.
• The western sidewalk along Louisiana Avenue South between West Lake Street and Oxford Street is closed through the spring to advance LRT bridge construction. Please use the sidewalk on the east side of Louisiana Avenue.
• The east sidewalk along Wooddale Avenue remains closed. Please use the sidewalk on the west side of Wooddale Avenue.
• The City of St. Louis Park continues utility construction at Wooddale Avenue and 36th Street that will impact the roadway until June. Additional information is available on the city’s webpage.

There are five Minneapolis maps with each illustrating where construction crews are working. General activities are highlighted for your convenience. Please refer to text descriptions in this section for more details on major elements being constructed in specific areas.

Chowen Avenue to Cedar Lake Parkway  

Construction overview:

In addition to the West Lake Street Station, crews will be reconstructing the Chowen/Abbott roadway connection. The LRT tunnel is being constructed in this area, running between the West Lake Street Station and the Cedar Lake Channel. To complete work in this area there is also freight rail infrastructure and trail facilities.

Upcoming: 

• Secant wall work is expected to resume in early June.
• The long-term closure of Cedar Lake Parkway is scheduled to begin on Monday, May 23 and last until spring 2023. A virtual public meeting was held to provide more details about the closure of Cedar Lake Parkway. You can view a recording of that meeting at the Public Involvement page of the Green Line Extension website.

• 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 the pumps.

Cedar Lake Parkway to Burnham Road

Construction overview:

The LRT tunnel continues in this segment. Other elements include the construction of retaining walls (complete), and freight, LRT, and trail bridges over the Cedar Lake Channel.

Burnham Road to Bryn Mawr Station

Construction overview:

In addition to the LRT, freight rail and trail construction, this area has two stations: West 21st Street and Bryn Mawr. The Bryn Mawr Station includes a pedestrian bridge that will extend over the freight tracks from the bluffs to the station platform.

Upcoming: 

• Lane closures are expected on Wayzata Boulevard starting late May and lasting through the construction season. Equipment will be staged to continue retaining wall work at the Bryn Mawr Station area.

Current activities to expect in this area:

• Construction at and around Bryn Mawr Station continues through 2022 for the pedestrian bridge and work on the station platform. Retaining wall work on the bluff south of Wayzata Boulevard and Penn Avenue continues.

Bryn Mawr Station to Bassett Creek Valley Station Area

Construction overview:

There are two stations serving residents in this area; Bryn Mawr Station and the Bassett Creek Valley Station. In addition, area construction includes LRT track, trails, and the corridor protection wall.

Glenwood Avenue to Target Field Station

Construction overview:

LRT will cross a new Glenwood Avenue bridge at the roadway grade. To make that happen three bridges need to be constructed, freight rail shifted, and extensive retaining walls built. This area will see the development of the Royalston Avenue/Farmer’s Market Station, an LRT bridge crossing over North 5th Avenue and North 7th Street and LRT connecting to the Target Field Station. The Holden/Royalston/Border roadway loop will also be reconstructed with improvements.

Upcoming:

• Traffic and parking impacts are expected on Holden Street starting late May to complete adjacent retaining wall work.

Ongoing: 

• Glenwood Avenue between Lyndale Avenue North and North 12th Street remains closed. See Minneapolis detour map.
• Royalston Avenue between 5^th Avenue and Border Avenue is closed. This closure will be in place at least into this winter.
• Bridge work near North 7th Street and North 6th Avenue continues. There is a temporary lane closure on eastbound North 6th Avenue.  

• Various trails within the Opus area are closed as crews advance many project elements.
• The Minnesota River Bluffs Trail between Shady Oak Road and 11th Avenue in Hopkins is anticipated to reopen in 2023.
• The Minnesota River Bluffs Trails between 11th Avenue and 5th Avenue in Hopkins is scheduled to reopen in Summer 2022.
• The South Cedar Lake LRT Trail in Hopkins and St. Louis Park remains closed. The Council will be coordinating with project partners to open segments starting in 2024.
• Temporary trails near Chowen Avenue and West Lake Street remain in place. For your safety and the safety of work crews, please follow signage for the temporary trail and stay clear of the work zone.
• The Kenilworth Trail will remain closed until the completion of LRT tunnel construction sometime in 2025.
• The Luce Line Regional Trail bridge that crosses the BNSF rail corridor at Bryn Mawr Meadows Park is closed. A new bridge is being reconstructed to connect the new Bassett Creek Valley Station with the park and is scheduled to reopen sometime in 2025.
• The North Cedar Lake Trail east of Van White Memorial Boulevard is anticipated to remain closed until 2025.