4th Street Reconstruction and Minneapolis Central City Tunnel Project Updates

Via November 5 e-announcements from the City of Minneapolis:

1) 4th Street Reconstruction Project Update

The City of Minneapolis will reconstruct 4th St. between 2nd Ave. N and 4th Ave. S in downtown Minneapolis. The reconstruction will include wider sidewalks, improved crossings, a new bi-directional off-street bike path on the north side of the street, lighting, trees and planting beds. Utility work and roadway construction are underway and are expected to be complete by the end of 2022.

Rendering of the future 4th St. design between Marquette Ave. and 2nd St.

Latest Project News

• Phase 1 work, between Hennepin and 4th Ave S, is substantially complete. 4th Street is now open to through traffic and the Washington Ave detour is no longer in effect.  
• Joint sealing along buildings will continue through November 12 and light pole installation will continue through the week of 11/22. 
• Xcel Energy will continue work between 2nd Ave N and Hennepin through the winter.
• One lane along 4th Street between Hennepin and 3rd Ave S will remain closed through November to facilitate final signal, lighting and cleanup work.
• Additional intermittent lane closures may occur as the contractor finishes cleanup work along the Phase 1 area.
• Northbound and southbound trac lanes on 4th St and Hennepin Ave have reopened to local traffic.
• Project newsletters and stakeholder update meetings are coming to an end for the season. Gov delivery update emails and stakeholder meetings will occur on 11/5 and 11/19 before going on hiatus until construction resumes in the spring.

View the 4th St. Reconstruction Newsletter and the interactive map for weekly construction updates.

What To Expect

• During roadway construction, 4th St. will be closed to through traffic between 2nd
  Ave. N. and 4th Ave. S. Local access to driveways will be maintained during road work.
• During construction work, pedestrian access will be maintained. Be aware of your surroundings when walking on the sidewalk.
• Expect additional noise, dust, and vibration as crews complete work.

Stay Connected

There are multiple ways to get information including email updates and ongoing stakeholder meetings. Visit the project website and sign-up for updates: www.minneapolismn.gov/government/projects/fourth-st-n-and-s/

Provide questions, comments or concerns on the interactive map: https://zan.mysocialpinpoint.com/4thstreetreconstruction

Email the project team: info@4thstmpls.com

Contact the project hotline: 612-412-9774

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -

2) Minneapolis Central City Tunnel Project Update

The City of Minneapolis Public Works Department is constructing a new parallel storm tunnel, enlarging a portion of the existing storm tunnel, and constructing a new tunnel access in Downtown Minneapolis. This project is anticipated to be completed summer 2023.

The new tunnel is being constructed parallel to the existing tunnel located under Washington Ave S between Nicollet Mall and Chicago Ave. The existing tunnel under Chicago Ave between Washington Ave S and the Mississippi River is being expanded to handle the increased stormwater capacity. The purpose of this project is to reduce pressure in the existing tunnel, provide more room for future growth, and to reduce the need for future repairs and tunnel failures. 

Latest project news

• Crews will soon begin installing a dewatering well near the southeast corner of the Nicollet Mall and Washington Ave intersection. Crews will begin setting up equipment and materials mid-November and start drilling the well soon after. 
  • This work will require the eastern sidewalk along Nicollet Mall between Washington Ave and 3rd St N to be temporarily closed.
  • Pedestrians will still be able to use the sidewalk on the west side of Nicollet Mall.
  • The crosswalk at the Washington Ave intersection will remain open.
• Crews will soon begin installing the new tunnel access shaft in the southbound lanes of 2nd Ave S just north of the Washington Ave intersection. Next week equipment and materials will be delivered to the work site and excavation will begin the week of November 15.
  • The sidewalks will remain open on both sides of the road. 
  • The crosswalk at the Washington Ave and 2nd Ave S intersection remains open.
  • 2nd Ave S remains a single lane in each direction using the northbound lanes between Washington Avenue and 1st St S. 
  • Access to driveways off 2nd Ave S remain open. There may be short-term access delays while crews move equipment and materials around.
• The east lane of 4th Ave S between 3rd St S and Washington Ave remains closed near the Washington Ave intersection. This is necessary to complete setting up the dewatering well and pumps. This work is anticipated to be completed in approximately three weeks.
  • The sidewalk on the east side of 4th Ave S remains temporarily closed until the dewatering well is setup. Pedestrians will be able to use the sidewalk on the west side of 4th Ave S.
  • The crosswalk at the Washington Ave and 4th Ave intersection remains open.
  • Access to driveways off 4th Ave S remain open.
• The right lane of Portland remains temporarily closed to install a dewatering well on the southwest corner of the intersection.
  • During this closure, bicyclists will share the open traffic lane and pedestrians should use the eastern sidewalk.
  • This closure is anticipated to remain in place for two weeks, or until crews finish installing the dewatering well. 
• Work continues at the Mississippi River portal site. Crews are excavating soils above the storm sewer tunnel.
  • The parking lot off Portland Ave east of the Stone Arch Bridge, near Mill Ruins Park, remains temporarily closed for the winter and will reopen spring 2022. This closure is necessary to complete the work in this area safely and efficiently.
  • The parking lot near Portland Ave and W River Pkwy remains open.
• Expect additional noise, dust, and vibration as crews complete work.
• Schedule is tentative and subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances.

Long-term closures/restrictions

• The north sidewalk along Washington Ave remains closed between Hennepin Ave and Nicollet Mall through spring 2022. The contractor will be utilizing an existing shaft to perform work for connecting the existing tunnel to the new tunnel.
  • During this closure, pedestrians will share the bike lane on Washington Ave.
  • The crosswalks at the Washington Ave intersections of Nicollet Mall and Hennepin Ave remain open.

Stay connected

There are multiple ways to get information including email updates and ongoing stakeholder meetings. Visit the project website for more information and to sign up for project updates:

https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/projects/central-city-tunnel/

Email the project team: info@mplscentralcitytunnel.com

Contact the project hotline: 612-888-9418