Detour of Westbound Washington Avenue Starting March 1
Wednesday, February 24, 2016 at 1:40PM
Via a February 24 Hennepin County e-newsletter:
Starting Tuesday, March 1, westbound lanes of Washington Avenue (County Road 152) in downtown Minneapolis will be closed from Second Avenue South to Hennepin Avenue to begin upfront utility relocation work associated with Hennepin County’s road reconstruction project.
Utility crews will be working in this area with a detour in place until later this summer, when they will move further east on Washington Avenue to complete their work. This utility relocation work is to be completed in 2016.
Following immediately behind the utility crews, Hennepin County will be reconstructing Washington Avenue between Hennepin Avenue and Fifth Avenue South.
This detour for motorists and bicyclists will follow Second Avenue South, Third Street South, Hennepin Avenue and then return to Washington Avenue. There is no detour for pedestrians or eastbound Washington Avenue. A map of the detour is available on the Washington Avenue reconstruction project webpage, www.hennepin.us/washingtonavenue.
Hennepin County, the City of Minneapolis and Xcel Energy developed a traffic plan to mitigate impacts and maximize traffic flow around the closure. Signs to direct road users will be posted and traffic control agents will assist at key intersections during peak traffic hours.
Upcoming reconstruction project overview
The county is reconstructing Washington Avenue between Hennepin Avenue and Fifth Avenue South. The reconstruction will improve the driving surface, but also improve safety and better accommodate those who travel through the area. When complete, the project will:
• Add dedicated turn lanes at key intersections
• Provide more space for pedestrians and shorten crossing distances at intersections
• Provide one-way cycle tracks, or protected bike lanes
Additional background and the project layout are available for download on the project webpage, www.hennepin.us/washingtonavenue.
The county currently anticipates its active construction will begin later this summer. The project is slated to be complete in 2017.
More information:
Visit the project webpage: http://www.hennepin.us/washingtonavenue
Contact:
Nathan Ellingson, project engineer
nathan.ellingson@hennepin.us
612-596-0375
