Lake Street Construction

Why reconstruction and why now?

One lane of traffic in each direction will remain open at all times, though left turns from Lake Street onto local streets may occasionally be restricted or prohibited.

On-street parking has been restored in the segments constructed in 2005 and 2006 (5th Ave. South to 36th Ave. South).
On-street parking will be prohibited in active construction zones.
On-street parking should be restored for the entire corridor by the end of November 2007 and remain available through the winter.
Special accommodations for off-street parking have been made at several business locations.

Front-door access to Lake Street businesses will be provided during business hours.
Sidewalk reconstruction may not occur at the same time the street is reconstructed because of obstructions known to exist in and under the sidewalk.

Metro Transit bus service will continue to serve area residents and businesses. However, buses will be rerouted from Lake Street to 31st Street between 36th Avenue South to West River Parkway, and from Emerson Avenue South to Nicollet Avenue South in 2007 to make sure patrons can be successfully served.
Metro Transit service will also be detoured from Lyndale Avenue South to Bryant Avenue South from West 31st Street to West 26th Street. Metro Transit Rider Alerts »

Property owners should determine whether their basement extends under the sidewalk on Lake Street or Lyndale Avenue. If it does, they may be responsible for removing or modifying this "areaway" to accommodate construction.[1]
Since an areaway is part of the building it serves, it is the building owner’s responsibility to make sure it is structurally sound and can be altered to allow sidewalk construction or it is abandoned. If your building has an areaway, or you believe it might, please contact Don Elwood of the City of Minneapolis at 612.673.3622.

If Lake Street properties need or desire to improve water, sanitary or storm sewer connections, it will be much less expensive for owners to do this work during the construction project.
Building owners are urged to determine how water drains from their building’s roof. If the roof’s drainage piping does not drain onto the ground, it is likely it drains directly into the sanitary sewer. Such connections are not allowed by City Ordinance, so the building owner must modify the drains while Lake Street is reconstructed.
Building owners are urged to contact Arvella Greenway of the City of Minneapolis at 612-673-5899 if they have any questions or know their building’s roof drain system needs to be modified.
For more information about rainleader disconnects:
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/cso/rainleader-ordinance/
For questions about combined sewer issues: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/cso

Water main improvements will also occur as Lake Street is reconstructed.
Water main was either cleaned and relined or replaced on Lake Street, Dupont Avenue, and Harriet Avenue between 5th Avenue and 21st Avenue, Minnehaha Avenue, West River Parkway, and on Lyndale Avenue from 29th Street to 31st Street in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
In 2008, water main will be cleaned and lined between Harriet Avenue and Blaisdell Avenue.
While the water main work takes place, the City of Minneapolis will provide temporary water service to businesses and homes affected.
Interested parties are invited to contact Jenifer Lonitz at the City of Minneapolis at 612.673.3625.

Each week during the 2008 construction season, Hennepin County, the City of Minneapolis and the county’s construction contractor meets to discuss the activities of the past week and current week. This meeting is held Wednesdays, 2 p.m. in the Champion Sports Bar and Grill.
Interested business owners and residents are welcome to attend. If you have any questions, please contact Don Shaffer of Hennepin County at 612-596-0416.
Current construction updates are posted on the Hennepin County Web site. Hennepin County Construction Update »