Description
The City of Saint Paul will reconstruct Grand Avenue between Fairview Avenue and Snelling Avenue in 2025. This project was originally planned to begin in 2024 but was postponed due to timing considerations and scheduling concerns. Construction will be completed in two sections to stay on schedule while maintaining access to businesses, properties, and Macalester College.

The Public Works goals of the project are to: 

  • Improve safety along the corridor, with an emphasis on pedestrian crossing safety
  • Upgrade and modernize ageing infrastructure
  • Improve built environment to better serve Grand Avenue businesses
  • Improve transit user experience
  • Balance mode share to encourage non-automotive trips along and to the corridor
  • Improve pedestrian crossing interactions/placemaking through Macalester College campus

Location
Grand Avenue from Fairview Avenue to Snelling Avenue

Timeline

  • Community engagement started in 2022 and was completed in early 2023
  • Construction will be in 2025
Tags

    The Cambridge Street and Grand Avenue intersection is currently closed, and scheduled to reopen by 5pm today, August 15.

    This week (Aug 11-Aug 16)

    Grand Avenue between Fairview Avenue and Macalester Street:

    • Crews have finished rebuilding the roadway.
    • Work on curb and gutter, sidewalk, and paving continues.

    Grand Avenue between Macalester Street and Snelling Avenue:

    • Sidewalks are ready for pedestrian use. Please follow any posted signs as work continues in the area.
    • Irrigation and soils were installed in the median planter beds.

    Next week (Aug 18-Aug 23)

    Grand Avenue and Fairview Avenue intersection:

    • Sidewalks are scheduled to be poured.
    • Following sidewalk installation, crews will pave the final layer of asphalt and lane striping will be completed.

    Grand Avenue between Fairview Avenue and Wheeler Street:

    • Curb and gutter is scheduled to be installed.
    • Preparing the street for the first layers of asphalt paving.

    Grand Avenue between Wheeler and Cambridge streets:

    • Crews will soon begin removing the sidewalks on the south side of Grand Avenue.
    • Please remove any planting beds or items you have along the sidewalks by end of day August 22.
      • Sandwich board signs can remain out.
    • Staff will be stopping by to coordinate access to your business.

    Grand Avenue between Macalester Street and Snelling Avenue:

    • Crews will temporarily patch the raised pedestrian crosswalks with asphalt until Macalester College completes work inside the median planting beds.
      • Macalester College will soon begin working on their irrigation system.
    • Once their work is completed, our crews will sod the boulevards.

    Sewer Work on Grand Avenue between Fairview Avenue and Wheeler Street:

    • The City’s sewer department will begin cleaning and lining the sanitary sewer pipes along Grand Avenue between Fairview Avenue and Wheeler Street (including the Fairview Avenue intersection).
    • To learn more about the sewer lining process and any impacts that may occur, please visit stpaul.gov/sewerlining.

    All construction activities and traffic impacts are weather and schedule permitting and subject to change.

    Local and business access 
    • Local and business access remains open on Grand Avenue between Cleveland and Fairview avenues.

    • Wheeler, Cambridge, and Macalester streets remain open across Grand Avenue

      • Except when work is occurring through the intersections.

    • Parking and deliveries are available using alleys and side streets. 

      • Parking remains available on Grand Avenue west of Fairview Avenue. 

      • Short-term parking is available on Wheeler, Cambridge, and Macalester streets between Summit and Lincoln avenues.

    Pedestrian access during construction
    • Pedestrians should use the south side of the sidewalk along Grand Avenue, except as directed. 

    • Please follow any posted detour signs.

    • When work occurs in intersections, there will always be one north/south and one east/west crossing available.

    Grand Avenue closed from Fairview Avenue to Snelling Avenue

    • Grand Avenue and Fairview Avenue intersection closed until end of July
    • Vehicle traffic detoured using St Clair, Cleveland, Marshall, and Snelling avenues

    Grand Avenue Detour Map

    Map showing Grand Avenue closed Fairview to Snelling. Detour route on St Clair, Cleveland, Marshall and Snelling

    Local and business access

    • Directional signage will be updated for local business and pedestrian access routes between Fairview and Snelling avenues.

    • Local and business access remains open on Grand Avenue between Cleveland and Fairview avenues.

    • Wheeler, Cambridge and Macalester streets remain open across Grand Avenue. 

      • Except when work is occurring through the intersections.

    • Parking and deliveries are available using alleys and side streets. 

      • Parking remains available on Grand Avenue west of Fairview Avenue. 

      • Short-term parking is available on Wheeler, Cambridge, and Macalester streets between Summit and Lincoln avenues.

    • Printable business access map
    Map showing Grand Avenue closed between Fairview and Snelling avenues. Local business access use Summit Avenue and cross streets

    Pedestrian access during construction

    • Pedestrians should use the south side of the sidewalk along Grand Avenue, except as directed. 

    • Please follow any posted detour signs.

    • When work occurs in intersections, there will always be one north/south and one east/west crossing available.

    Bus access and detour during construction

    • Route 63 bus is detoured off Grand Avenue from Cleveland Avenue to Snelling Avenue beginning April 14, 2025 until further notice.
    • See the Metro Transit Route 63 rider alert for more information and a map of the detour and temporary bus stops: https://www.metrotransit.org/route/63
    Grand Avenue Construction Schedule

    Below is an overview of the construction schedule.

    Grand Avenue reconstruction map with Section 1 from Fairview to Cambridge and Section 2 from Cambridge to Snelling
    • Construction began spring 2025. Anticipated schedule, subject to change:
      • April - October 2025: Section 1 construction - Fairview Avenue to Cambridge Street, includes the Fairview Avenue and Cambridge Street intersections
      • Mid-May - August 2025: Section 2 construction - Cambridge Street to Snelling Avenue
    • Final restoration and landscaping activities may occur in spring/summer 2026.
    • Utility work will be coordinated with the construction activities.
    • Pedestrian access and access to businesses will be maintained during construction.
    Image of Grand Avenue construction crawl card

    Support Grand Avenue Businesses during Construction with the "Construction Crawl Card"

    The City of Saint Paul, Grand Avenue Business Association, and the Macalester-Groveland Community Council are working together to support businesses along Grand Avenue during construction. Support Grand Avenue Businesses during construction with the "Construction Crawl Card."

    Grab your crew and hit the avenue — it’s time for a Construction Crawl!

    Wander your way down Grand Avenue from Fairview Avenue to Snelling Avenue, stopping into your favorite shops, restaurants, and local gems along the way. Score deals, check off your to-do list, and show some love to small businesses all in one go.

    Exclusive offers are waiting August–October 2025 — just flash your Construction Crawl Card!

    Download your Construction Crawl Card now or pick one up at a participating businesses and let the crawl begin.

    For more information and to download the Construction Crawl Card, visit grandave.com/construction

    Grand Avenue Business open office hours every other Wednesday 1 - 1:30 p.m.

    We invite businesses to join us virtually or in person on every other Wednesday from 1 – 1:30 p.m. for open office hours. 

    We will hold these office hours on August 20 and then may make adjustments based on attendance. We are committed to being available in person and by phone to respond to business and resident concerns and questions. Look for more information about office hours as we make adjustments.

    Every other Wednesday - August 20
    1:00 - 1:30 p.m.

    Agenda for Grand Avenue Business Open Office Hours (printable agenda)

    • Welcome and Project Team Introductions

    • Reminder of Meeting Protocols for hybrid meeting with online and in-person participants

    • Reports

      • Construction updates for the current week

      • Construction updates for what is coming in the next week or two

      • Updates from other construction in the area

    • Facilitated Discussions to Address Questions and Concerns

      • Grand Avenue businesses

      • Other concerns on Grand Avenue  

      • Other concerns on Lincoln Avenue and surrounding area 

    Grand Avenue Business Support

    • Based on the feedback from our community meetings and survey, there was interest for a variety of promotional strategies. Working with GABA and MGCC, we have pulled together a Grand Avenue Open for Business Campaign with three different strategies:
      • Construction Crawl Card
      • Coordinated Sale (e.g. No Sidewalks/Construction Sale)
      • Paid targeted social media campaign
    • More information coming very soon.
    • If you would like "Grand Avenue is open for business" window clings or posters, please email us at publicworksinfo@ci.stpaul.mn.us.
    • If you would like to receive a customized business map please send your request to publicworksinfo@ci.stpaul.mn.us.

    Project Updates 2025

    All construction activities and traffic impacts are weather and schedule permitting and subject to change.

    Project Updates 2024

    FAQs

    Project Documents

    Note that construction information and materials are updated throughout the project. Please refer to the most recent version of maps and documents.

    Investing in Saint Paul Streets: Common Cent 

    A portion of this street reconstruction project will be paid for by a 1% local option sales tax, called Common Cent. This sales tax was approved by Saint Paul voters in November 2023. A portion of the project will also be funded through assessments to property owners adjacent to the project. The estimated assessment rate is based on a third-party special benefit analysis of the property values in the project area. Property owners will receive a notice of the estimated rate and date for a public hearing when estimated rates are available. More information on assessments can be found at www.stpaul.gov/specialassessments.

    Other Construction Projects in the Area