4th Street Reconstruction: Construction is Complete!
Tuesday, August 16, 2022 at 4:22AMThe City of Minneapolis has completed reconstruction of 4th St. between 2nd Ave. N. and 4th Ave. S. Planning for the project began in 2017 and construction began in 2021. The purpose of the project was to:
- Replace the aging street infrastructure
- Improve safety, access, and comfort for people walking
- Create a bicycle connection for all ages and abilities
- Collect and treat stormwater runoff using green infrastructure
- Enhance the area with street trees and plantings
- Create a more intuitive street by removing and relocating the contraflow bus lane
What Improvements Were Made
- Replaced aging asphalt street with a new concrete street
- Lane reconfiguration
- New trees and planting beds throughout the corridor
- Wider sidewalks and improved crosswalks including curb extensions at all intersections
- A new two-way protected bike lane along the north side of the street
- New traffic signals, lighting, and crosswalk timers throughout the corridor
Replaced aging street infrastructure
- 4th Street was last reconstructed in 1962. It had reached the end of its useful life and was severely cracked and potholed. As part of this project, new concrete pavement, curb and gutter, and storm sewer infrastructure were put in place
New lane configuration
- Three eastbound travel lanes between 2nd Ave. N. and 3rd Ave. S.
- Two eastbound travel lanes between 3rd Ave. S. and 4th Ave. S.
- Parking available between 2nd Ave N. and Marquette Ave., and parking in front of city hall between 3rd Ave S. and 4th Ave S.
Planting beds, rain gardens and boulevard trees
- New planting beds and rain gardens were constructed along 4th Street and include native plantings, perennials, and trees. These new green areas reduce stormwater runoff, capture excess rainwater, and provide shade.
Improved sidewalk and pedestrian crossings
- Wider sidewalks, improved crosswalks and curb extension at all intersections increase safety for people walking, rolling, and biking along 4th St.
Two-way protected bike lane
- A new two-way protected bike lane constructed on the north side of the street. This improves bicycle connection, safety, and access along 4th St.
Traffic signals, lighting, and crosswalk timers
- Traffic signals, lighting, and crosswalk timers at intersections provide updated safety measures for vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians on 4th St. Additional lighting along the corridor improves visibility at night.
Help protect greenspaces on 4th Street
Help keep new plantings and landscaping beds healthy along the 4th Street corridor by reducing your salt use this winter. Overuse of salt permanently pollutes lakes, rivers, and groundwater, and causes costly damage to buildings, vehicles, and plants. Did you know, 78% of salt applied in the metro area ends up in groundwater or local lakes and rivers?
Here are some helpful tips to reduce salt use while also keeping roadways and sidewalks safe.
- Apply less: More salt does not mean more melting. A coffee mug of salt will cover about 10 sidewalk squares, or a 20-foot driveway.
- 15 degrees (F) is too cold for salt. Most salts stop working at this temperature. Use sand instead for traction but remember that sand does not melt ice.
- Shovel: The more snow and ice that can be removed manually, the less salt you will need to use. Do not pile snow on top of planting beds. This can kill plants that have gone dormant over the winter.
For more information see: Salt mini-course
Stay tuned to the City of Minneapolis newsletters and visit the project webpage for more information, hear about upcoming events and see our interactive map: minneapolismn.gov/4thStreet.
