Replacement of West River Parkway Wood Plank Trail Continues This Fall

85-foot section of wood plank trail will be replaced over 2-3 weeks; parkway remains open

The second phase of a project that will eventually replace all planks on the West River Parkway Wood Plank Trail is scheduled to begin in late October. Construction is expected to take two to three weeks to complete.

Closures and Detours

• During construction, the east (river) side of West River Parkway Trail will be closed between Portland Avenue and 11th Avenue South. The parkway will remain open.
• Pedestrians will use a detour to the sidewalk across the parkway. 
• Bicyclists may choose to use the parkway or travel south one block and use the bike lane on Second Street.
• Motorists traveling in this area must use caution and share the road with bicycle traffic.
  

Project Details

• Last year approximately 100 linear feet of planks were replaced. This work is Phase II, which will replace another 85 linear feet.
• The new planks are made from Douglas Fir, replacing the old White Oak planks.
• Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board maintenance and planning staff are evaluating the new plank design before replacing the entire plank trail, which will occur as funding becomes available.
  

Project History

• 2003: This section of West River Parkway (between Portland and 11th Aves.) was converted to an oak plank road similar to the original plank road used during the area's milling heyday. 
• 2010: The parkway planks were replaced by concrete due to deterioration of the wood and noise the planks created under the weight of motorized traffic.
• 2015: Some of the most-deteriorated trail planks were replaced as part of a project that repaved and realigned more than three miles of West River Parkway Trail.
  
• 2016: A report assessing the state of the plank road and alternatives was published: Plank Road/Trail Assessment and Alternatives [PDF]
• 2017: Approximately 100 linear feet of trail planks were replaced, beginning at Portland Avenue and traveling north.
• 2018 and beyond: Planks will continue to be replaced as funding becomes available.

About this project

The West River Parkway Wood Plank Trail Replacement project will eventually replace all of the warped wooden planks on West River Parkway Trail near Mill Ruins Park.