Weekly Construction Update

Construction Hotline

For urgent Southwest LRT construction issues, please call the 24-hour hotline at 612-373-3933 for assistance.  Call the hotline for problems such as blocked access to business or residential areas, improper traffic sign placement or parking issues. For general questions or comments about Southwest LRT, contact your Community Outreach Coordinator.

For emergencies, always call 911.

Construction Activity Updates

The Met Council provides information on construction activities every Friday throughout construction. Subscribe to receive construction activity updates by email or text.

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Southwest LRT Construction Update: July 2, 2020 

Holiday Weekend Update
This abbreviated update covers new activities or traffic changes occurring before the July 10 regular construction update. Only necessary maintenance and site security activities will continue during the holiday weekend. We hope you enjoy a quiet holiday. Should you have any construction issues, please call our construction hotline, which is monitor by staff 24/7.

Weekly Construction Photo: Nine Mile Creek in Eden Prairie 

Crews work on a set of piers at Nine Mile Creek bridge. After a pier is excavated, support piles are installed. Bridge construction progress can be seen from Highway 212 or Flying Cloud Drive.

Eden Prairie

This Eden Prairie map illustrates where construction crews are working today and approximately through August. 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 Area
In this area crews will be expanding the existing park-and-ride ramp and constructing the joint bus and LRT station. The former SouthWest Transit facility is demolished, and crews are working on excavation and utilities in the area. Expect pile driving as crews work on the bus loop, retaining walls, utilities and the new parking ramp. Crews have erected a stationary tower crane to assist with ongoing work. The right-turn lane on the eastbound Highway 212 ramp to Prairie Center Drive remains closed.
 
Prairie Center Drive LRT Bridge
The Prairie Center Drive LRT Bridge begins by SouthWest Transit, crosses over Technology Drive, follows the east side of Purgatory Creek Park and then crosses Prairie Center Drive to land north of Bachman’s on the east side of the road. The bridge structure will be under construction until fall 2020. Many of the bridge piers are now complete. Work on last remaining bridge pier has begun in the median of Prairie Center Drive. Look for Eden Prairie scenes on many of the piers along Prairie Center Drive.
 
Sidewalks near the intersection of Prairie Center Drive and Technology Drive remain closed, please follow signage to ensure your safety. The sidewalk is closed from Technology Drive to Singletree Lane.  (See the SouthWest pedestrian detour map).
 
Eden Road Area
Work on retaining walls as well as utility work in the area continues. The intersection of Eden Road and Flying Cloud Drive is closed and will remain closed until mid-July. Eden Road will be closed west of Glenn Lane toward Single Tree starting in mid -July.
 
Clearing and ground cover removal for the Eden Prairie Town Center Station has begun.
 
This Eden Prairie map illustrates where construction crews are working today and approximately through August. 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. 

LRT Bridge at I-494/Flying Cloud Drive
LRT will travel on a bridge over I-494, parallel to Flying Cloud Drive. Abutment work is nearly complete, with crews removing the supports for excavation and backfilling. Work continues on the walls for the approaches to the bridge. Traffic control barriers are in place in the immediate vicinity of the work zone. Two overnight closures of I-494 are anticipated in late July to set bridge beams. Details will be posted in advance of the closure.
 
Flying Cloud Drive
Along Flying Cloud Drive between Eden Road and Valley View Road crews are conducting major utility work while the roadway is under construction. Crews are also beginning work on the LRT track guideway. Overall, there will be four phases of temporary traffic changes, specifically lane reductions and closures to complete the construction of LRT and associated utility work. These four phases will last the duration of the 2020 construction season.
 
Phase two of planned traffic changes continues on Flying Cloud Drive. Traffic is shifted to the south side of Flying Cloud Drive between Eden Road and Valley View Road. The intersection of Technology Drive and Flying Cloud Drive and the off-ramp from I-494 to Flying Cloud Drive remain closed into mid-July 2020. See Eden Prairie detour maps here. Crews are currently grading the LRT track alignment. Access to area businesses on the north of the roadway remain open, follow posted signage.
 
Valley View Road
Deck work on the Valley View Road LRT bridge is ongoing. The on ramp from Valley View Road to eastbound Highway 212 is being reconstructed and will open the week of July 6.
 
Nine Mile Creek
Pile driving for the LRT bridge structure at Nine Mile Creek will continue through the summer. Crews have advanced abutment work and continue to complete piers. Deck work for the bridge is getting underway. The sidewalk on the west side of Flying Cloud Drive is closed; pedestrians should use the east side.
 
Golden Triangle Station
Throughout the 2020 construction season, crews will advance work on the Golden Triangle Station, the land bridge north of the station, and the LRT bridge that will transition to cross over Shady Oak Road and Highway 212. Expect ongoing activity including pile driving in the area as these elements advance.
 
Current activities include piling and concrete work for retaining walls and the LRT bridge. Work on the Golden Triangle Station and the adjacent track slab is also being advanced. 
 
Shady Oak Road/Flying Cloud Drive
Three lanes on the north side of Shady Oak Road have closed to begin construction pier construction for the LRT bridge that will span Shady Oak Road and Highway 212. This lane closure will remain in effect into the fall. Work in the median of Highway 212 will also start later this month to advance the LRT bridge. Expect construction activities on the west side of Highway 212 in the coming months, as work progresses north.

Minnetonka

This Minnetonka map illustrates where construction crews are working today and approximately through August. 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. 
 
Highway 62
Construction of the LRT tunnel under Highway 62 is ongoing through the 2021 construction season. The work is divided into two phases, work on the north then the south side of the highway. Traffic lanes have been shifted to the south side of the highway corridor to accommodate LRT tunnel construction on the north side of the highway. This traffic configuration will be in place through the fall of 2020. Crews finished constructing the bottom leveling slab of the north tunnel section, have advanced concrete and waterproofing work, and are starting structural work for the tunnel walls.
 
Red Circle Drive and Yellow Circle Drive
Yellow and Red Circle Drives have been reconfigured to allow for ongoing tunnel construction at Highway 62. Yellow Circle Drive is temporarily dead ended with a cul-de-sac where it connects to Red Circle Drive. Yellow Circle Drive has temporarily become a two-way roadway in the area south of Blue Circle Drive. A temporary by-pass road is complete on Red Circle Drive. This roadway configuration will be in place until fall 2020. See Minnetonka roadway changes here.
 
Additional work has begun on Red Circle Drive for bridge reconstruction. The southern portion of Red Circle Drive is modified temporarily to two-way traffic. Red Circle Drive is a dead ended cul-de-sac where it connects with the other Red Circle Drive access. Yellow Circle traffic connects to the southern portion of Red Circle Drive to travel west until the cul-de-sac closure point. See Minnetonka roadway changes here. Additional information about area activities is also available on the city’s website here.
 
Opus Station Area
Crews are working on utilities in the area. Station foundation construction is complete and structural steel will begin to emerge in early July. Retaining wall work is ongoing north of the station area, including a significant portion of the LRT alignment to Smetana and Feltl Roads. The installation of the solider pile retaining wall is complete and crews are advancing overall wall construction.
 
Bren Road West, just west of Green Circle Drive to Bren Road East, is closed to vehicles and pedestrians through the 2020 construction season. See Minnetonka detour map here. Crews are advancing utility work in the area. Piling for retaining walls near the roadway is ongoing.
 
Smetana Road
In this area, the project includes two roadway bridges to accommodate LRT travelling underneath the Smetana and Feltl roadways. Utility work is ongoing in this area. Excavation continues for bridge abutments and approach walls. Sheeting installation is occurring and piling for the bridge abutments has begun. Expect noise and vibration from pile driving in the area.
Smetana Road from Feltl Road to Nolan Drive is closed through 2020. A temporary bypass is in place west of the intersection of Smetana and Feltl Roads to accommodate local traffic.  See Minnetonka detour maps here.
 
Minnetonka-Hopkins LRT Bridge Area
The Minnetonka-Hopkins LRT bridge is located east of Nolan Drive and west of the Hopkins Landfill and will cross over the freight tracks to the north. The bridge will take multiple years to complete. Excavation and pile driving continue at the north end of the bridge south of 5th Street South. Expect noise and vibration from pile driving in the area. Piling activities for the bridge will move north to south. Piling work for the bridge piers will be ongoing through the 2020 construction season.

Hopkins

This Hopkins map illustrates where construction crews are working today and approximately through August. 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. 
 
Shady Oak Road Station
Foundation work for Shady Oak Station is underway. The station structure will begin to emerge in July.
 
11th Avenue South
Work is underway at the future LRT track crossing at 11th Avenue South. LRT crosses this roadway just north of 5th Street South, south of Excelsior Boulevard. The roadway is reduced to one lane in each direction. The LRT crossing panels to transverse 11th Avenue have been placed on the east side of 11th Avenue South. Traffic is then expected to swap to other half of the roadway so crews can complete work. The LRT tracks will be pulled across the intersection at a date later this year. 
 
On 5th Street, utility work is expected to begin in July. Roadway impacts are anticipated. More detail will be provided as the closure dates nears.
 
Downtown Hopkins Station
Station work continues. Crews have built the walls, advanced utility work and poured the base slab.
 
Excelsior Boulevard Area
Crews continue building the LRT bridge over Excelsior Boulevard. With the LRT bridge piers nearing completion, the structural forms to take the bridge over the roadway and freight rail are starting to take shape. Crew are building “pier tables”, which taken quiet literally means the base or “table” for the bridge to be placed on the piers. Concrete work for the top of the piers is advancing and concrete work for the spans is upcoming in the next months.  The bridge structure is a post-tensioned box girder. This type of bridge can efficiently span long distances. The initial shape of the box girder is now visible from the roadway. More of these structure segments will be built in the coming months. 
 
Blake Road
The project is improving bike safety in the area by building a regional trail underpass. Crews are constructing the trail underpass on the west side of Blake Road. Sheet piles have been driven to almost the center of the roadway. The southbound lanes on Blake Road are closed to vehicle traffic and will remain closed through the summer. Vehicle traffic will be permitted in one lane in the northbound direction. Pedestrians can access the sidewalk on the east side of Blake Road. Expect sheet pile driving, excavation and concrete work in the area. See Hopkins detour maps here. Crews will start to build the top of the regional trail tunnel, which will allow the area to be reconstructed later this summer. Once this portion of Blake Road is complete, traffic will be swapped to the other side and a single lane will be allowed in the southbound direction so crews can complete the underpass.

St. Louis Park

This St. Louis Park map illustrates where construction crews are working today and approximately through August. 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. 
 
Minnehaha Creek
Work on the new freight and regional trail bridges continues in the area. Bridge beams are being placed and crews are advancing deck work, with much of the concrete work competed. Crews continue earthwork activities to prepare the area for permanent freight rail track. Retaining wall work in the area is advancing.
 
Louisiana Avenue                                                                                                                                                               
In the Louisiana Avenue area, the project is constructing the following elements: Louisiana Station and park and ride areas, reestablishing the regional trail, LRT and freight bridges, a pedestrian/bicyclist underpass (which connects the regional trail to the station), and a new Southerly Connector for freight rail to connect to the MN&S freight line. View the area’s visualization to see how this all comes together.
 
Crews are working on the trail underpass. Shoring and sheet pile driving work for the southerly freight rail connection, that will replace the current wye freight track, along Oxford Street is well underway with the abutment taking shape.
 
The abutments for the regional trail and freight rail bridge at Louisiana Avenue are complete and bridge beams are being placed across the roadway. Additional lane closures will occur to advance deck work. No detours are expected.
 
Wooddale Avenue
Construction of the regional trail underpass at Wooddale Avenue continues. Wooddale Avenue is closed between West 36th Street and Highway 7, in the immediate vicinity of the Southwest LRT Project. It is anticipated that Wooddale Avenue will reopen to vehicle traffic either on July 2, 2020 or the week of July 6th. 
 
Highway 100
The project will re-position the existing freight rail bridge and build a new LRT bridge over Highway 100 later this year.
Crews are working on storm water management, erosion control, freight rail and trail infrastructure from Highway 100 to Beltline Boulevard.
 
Beltline Boulevard
Beltline Boulevard is being improved by the addition of a regional trail bridge over the roadway. The main truss for the regional trail bridge has been set and work on the trail bridge deck continues. To complete the bridge crews will need to move the freight rail tracks. Preparation for that move is ongoing.  
 
Reconstruction of Beltline Boulevard in this area will start in the next couple weeks. Beltline Boulevard will be reduced to one lane in each direction for utility work. A full road closure is anticipated in late July or August. Signage will be posted in advance of the lane closures.

Minneapoilis

There are five Minneapolis maps with each illustrating where construction crews are working today and approximately through August. 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 Lake Street
For the 2020 construction season, this area will experience major utility work, soil correction activities, pier protection work on the Lake Street Bridge, West Lake Street Station construction and the realignment of Chowen/Abbott roadways. Utility work is ongoing in the area.
 
Kenilworth Tunnel Area Construction
From the Lake Street Bridge to just south of the Cedar Lake Channel, construction of the LRT tunnel is ongoing through 2022. One press-in piler is being mobilized at the Cedar Lake Parkway for the week of July 6. The other piler is closing a utility gap by 28th Street and then will be mobilized on the freight rail side of the track and will work south towards Lake Street. Overall, sheet pile installation for the tunnel is expected to last through summer of 2020.
 
For more information about tunnel construction, see the tunnel FAQ information under the construction tab of our webpage: swlrt.org. A short video of the press-in-piler construction technique that is being used for the tunnel is also available.
 
There are five Minneapolis maps with each illustrating where construction crews are working today and approximately through August. 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. 
 
Cedar Lake Parkway
To advance tunnel sheeting, Cedar Lake Parkway will close for 16 days starting on Monday, July 6. Crews will not be working weekends. During the closure, tunnel sheeting will be installed through the Cedar Lake Parkway intersection, cut to the proper height, and then the roadway will be restored. Detour information. A longer closure of approximately six months (minus the duration of this closure) will be needed to excavate and construct the tunnel. Tunnel excavation west of the Cedar Lake Parkway is expected to begin later this summer. We will provide updates as additional work is scheduled. See construction flyer here.
 
Cedar Lake (Kenilworth) Channel
 
Three bridges will be constructed over the channel for freight, LRT, and the Kenilworth trail. Construction for the freight rail bridge is underway and will be completed first and the LRT then trail bridges will follow in sequence.
Crews are almost complete with freight rail bridge deck work. Crews are also advancing earth work and track building activities on the approaches to the bridge. In the next few weeks crews will be installing timber ties to support the track. Freight is anticipated to be shifted permanently onto the new bridge in July. After the freight rail is shifted, the existing freight bridge will be removed and piling for the LRT bridge will begin.
 
There are five Minneapolis maps with each illustrating where construction crews are working today and approximately through August. 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. 
 
21st Street
Temporary surcharge continues to be in place south of 21st Street for the station. Surcharge work consists of periods of moving soil activities followed by periods underlying soil consolidation. The surcharge is currently in a settlement period into the summer. Additional dirt may be needed periodically.  
 
West 21st Street Station construction is expected to begin this summer after surcharge removal.  
Minor grading and trail paving work around 21st Street is complete and additional fencing is being installed between the trail and haul route.
 
There are five Minneapolis maps with each illustrating where construction crews are working today and approximately through August. 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. 
 
Bryn Mawr Station Area
To accommodate the LRT station, crews will construct a pedestrian bridge on the northern bluff (near Penn Avenue and Highway 394) to the station. In addition, crews need to do a significant amount of earthwork in the area to construct the new trail alignment, regrade the contours of earth in the area and build a stable foundation for the LRT tracks.
 
The temporary surcharge for the station remains in a settlement period. This work will remain into the summer to consolidate the underlying soil to provide a suitable foundation for the station.
 
I-394/Cedar Lake Trail
Trail construction to move pedestrians to their permanent location in the area will occur later this summer.
 
Linden Yards
Utility work continues in the area. Construction of the Bassett Creek Valley Station will begin later this year.
 
There are five Minneapolis maps with each illustrating where construction crews are working today and approximately through August. 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. 
 
Glenwood Avenue
When the project is complete, LRT will cross Glenwood Avenue at grade. To make that happen three bridges need to be constructed, freight rail shifted, and extensive retaining walls built. Glenwood Avenue between Lyndale Avenue North and 11th Street North is closed until mid‑2021. The roadway is closed to vehicle, pedestrian, and bicycle traffic. See detour map here. Local access to businesses is maintained. Crews continue to work on retaining walls in the area. Work on the west abutment for the new roadway bridge continues.
 
Royalston Avenue
This area will see the development of the Royalston Avenue/Farmer’s Market Station, an LRT bridge crossing over 5th Avenue and 7th Street and connecting to the Target Field Station. The Holden/Royalston/Border loop will also be reconstructed. Much of the pavement on the northern portion of Royalston Avenue has been removed and piling for retaining walls is ongoing. Work on the LRT bridge piers on the east side of Royalston Avenue is ongoing and will continue through the summer. Expect pile driving activities in this area. The southbound travel lane on Royalston Avenue from 5th Street to Holden Street is closed; the closure will last until summer 2021. Business access is available via the northbound lane. See the roadway impact map here.

Regional Trails


Minnesota River Bluffs Regional Trail
The Minnesota River Bluffs Regional Trail in Hopkins is closed between Shady Oak Road and 5th Avenue South. See detour map here.
  • The section between Shady Oak Road and 11th Avenue South is closed due to storm sewer construction activities. This portion of the trail is closed through summer 2020. 
  • The section between 11th Avenue South and 5th Avenue South is closed until fall 2021.
South Cedar Lake LRT Trail
The South Cedar Lake Trail from just east of the North Cedar Lake Trail connection in Hopkins to France Avenue in St. Louis Park is closed until fall 2021. The South Cedar Lake Trail will remain open between France Avenue in St. Louis Park and Kenilworth Trail/Midtown Greenway intersection in Minneapolis. The Midtown Greenway will remain open. Currently, cross streets remain open to automobiles, bikers and pedestrians, with separate closures of roadways upcoming at various dates. See detour maps here.
 
Kenilworth Trail Closure
The Kenilworth Trail is closed in Minneapolis at the intersection with the Midtown Greenway to just south of West 21st Street until summer 2022. Access for automobiles, bikers and pedestrians remains open at Cedar Lake Parkway and at West 21st Street. See detour map here.
 
North Cedar Lake Trail in Minneapolis
The North Cedar Lake Trail in Minneapolis from Linden Yards located west of Van White Boulevard to east of Royalston Avenue is closed until mid-2021. See detour maps here.
 
Please note, construction vehicles cross the trail as they enter and exit staging areas. Construction vehicles yield to trail users but please be aware that you may encounter construction traffic in this area.
 
The Cedar Lake Trail by Highway 394 and Linden Yards is detoured to Kenwood Parkway for two to three weeks. The connection to the Luce Line Trail will remain open, accessible via the connection under I-394 by Spring Lake. See trail detour maps here. Crews are conducting utility work in the area.