Lake Street Reconstruction & Streetscaping | News: Lake Street construction progressing on schedule

As Lake Street reconstruction and streetscaping in South Minneapolis nears the halfway point of its first construction season, the project is proceeding on schedule, according to the Hennepin County Transportation Department.

“We started out a bit slow but we are on schedule now, and it looks like we’ll stay on schedule,” said Don Shaffer, county project engineer for Lake Street reconstruction.

Construction in 2005 is occurring between 5th and 14th Avenues. Since construction started in mid-May, the roadway and sidewalks on the south side of this stretch have been ripped up and replaced, along with sewer mains and other utilities.

This week, traffic was switched from the north to the south side of Lake Street between Chicago Avenue and 14th Avenue, and crews began removing the old sidewalks and pavement on the north side of the street. The contractor is now placing the new sidewalk on the north side of Lake Street near the Midtown Exchange at Chicago Avenue. New concrete curb and gutter is being placed from Park Avenue to 5th Avenue, to be followed by new sidewalks behind the curb.

Shaffer says that work on the roadway and sidewalks between 5th Avenue and 14th Avenue should be completed by the end of the construction season in mid-November, with few, if any, streetscaping details left over for next year.

In 2006, the project will move east, replacing the stretch of Lake Street between 14th Avenue and 21st Avenue.

By 2008, Lake Street between Dupont Avenue and the Mississippi River will have an entirely new roadway, sidewalks and streetscape, supporting business revitalization and livability in the corridor. The $25-million project is among the largest road construction efforts in Hennepin County history.

For full information on the Lake Street reconstruction and streetscaping project – including illustrations of the new design – visit www.lakestreet.info.

More News & Information

» Announcing Nov. 21 celebration on Lake Street to mark the return of bus service in Midtown
(Nov. 15, 2005)

» Announcing October 19 open house to review approved design concepts for Lake Street
(Sep. 19, 2005)

» La reconstrucción de la calle Lake progresa según lo previsto
(Aug. 05, 2005)

» Lake Street construction progressing on schedule
(Aug. 04, 2005)

» Minneapolis approves Lake Street design East of Hiawatha Ave.
(Jul. 25, 2005)

» Lake Street project information available en Español
(Jul. 21, 2005)

» Announcing June 8 open house for Lake Street design
(May. 19, 2005)

» Community celebration kicks off Lake Street reconstruction
(May. 16, 2005)

» City Council Approves County's Proposal for Rebuilding Lake Street
(Aug. 06, 2004)

» Lake Street Project Advisory Committee finds "middle way" in road design for reconstruction
(Mar. 19, 2004)

» "Cars, buses beat bikes in Lake Street survey" Star Tribune, Steve Brandt
(Jul. 12, 2003)

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