Description
The City of Saint Paul plans to reconstruct Minnesota Street in downtown. The project includes demolition and replacement of the pavement, sidewalks, and underground utilities along the corridor. The Public Works goals of the project are to: 

  • Improve safety for all users
  • Implement a bikeway connection
  • Improve the transit user experience downtown
  • Modernize the aging infrastructure
  • Create a resilient and people-oriented corridor
  • Support the evolving needs of downtown users

Location
Minnesota Street from Kellogg Boulevard to 11th Street in downtown. 

Timeline 
Community engagement began in early 2021. Construction for Phase 1 from Kellogg Boulevard to 6th Street will begin in 2023. Phase 2 construction, which is Minnesota Street from 6th Street to 11th Street, will begin in 2024. 

Tags

    Virtual Presentation & Office Hours

    Virtual Presentation
    Please watch the Minnesota Street Reconstruction presentation video to learn more about the project. You can also view the PowerPoint slides used in the video.

    Virtual Office Hours - Project staff available online for you to drop in with your questions.
    Thursday, March 2
    12:00 - 1:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m

    Utility Work Happening Now

    Utility work is being done in advance of the reconstruction of Minnesota Street. During the utility work, Minnesota Street will be open to vehicle traffic, with some lane closures and parking restrictions. Pedestrian access will be maintained with some sidewalk closures. Please follow all posted signs. Access to businesses will be maintained.

    Sewer

    Sewer work to start Monday, January 16 on Minnesota Street near the intersections of 9th Street and 11th Street. Sewer work is anticipated to be completed by March 17, 2023.

    Traffic impacts:

    • Left lane of Minnesota Street closed from 7th Place East to 9th Street
    • Left lane of Minnesota Street closed from 10th Street to 11th Street
    • Right lane of 11th Street closed from Cedar Street to Minnesota Street

    Parking impacts:

    • Meters in the construction area will be hooded starting Thursday, January 12 to allow for snow removal in advance of the start of construction
    • No parking (meters hooded) on the following streets:
      • west side of Minnesota Street from 7th Place East to 9th Street
      • east side of Minnesota Street from 7th Street to 9th Street
      • west side of Minnesota Street from 10th Street to 11th Street
      • south side of 11th Street from Cedar Street to Minnesota Street

    Questions about sewer work, contact Aaron Hass at 651-485-2262 or aaron.hass@ci.stpaul.mn.us

    Xcel Energy

    Xcel Energy is currently working on Minnesota Street between Kellogg Boulevard and 5th Street. As work is completed, Xcel Energy's work area will move north along Minnesota Street from Kellogg Boulevard to 11th Street.

    Questions about Xcel Energy work, contact Elisa Rasmussen at elisa.rasmussen@xcelenergy.com

    Concept Design

    Thank you to everyone who participated in the concept design process for the Minnesota Street Reconstruction Project. In 2021 and 2022, staff collected hundreds of survey responses, conducted dozens of formal and informal stakeholder meetings, and initiated engineering and utility design on the corridor. You can read summaries of all the feedback in the Project Updates section below.

    Here are the key themes that we have heard over 15 months of conversations:

    • Street trees & pedestrian buffers are a top priority
    • A protected bicycle facility is necessary to safely accommodate current and future users, including emerging modes of transportation
    • Two travel lanes are necessary to enable efficient commutes into and out of downtown
    • A parking or loading zone is necessary on every block to maintain local building access and flexibility in the long term

    Concept Design Images

    With these key themes in mind, the concept for Minnesota Street includes sidewalks on both sides of the street, a boulevard/buffer space that is wide enough for street trees on one side, a two-way bike facility, a parking or loading zone lane, and two drive lanes. 

    Cross section of design for Minnesota Street showing the right of way from west to east with 5.5 foot sidewalk, 2 foot buffer, 8 foot 2 direction bike lane, 6 foot boulevard with street lights, 8 foot parking lane, 10 foot driving lane, 11 foot bus lane, 3.5 foot boulevard with street light, 6 foot sidewalk

    Click here for a larger image of the cross-section

    Review a PDF Layout of the whole corridor *updated July 22, 2022*

    This concept is a hybrid version of all the options presented in Fall 2021. It was developed as a result of public and stakeholder feedback. The concept will change slightly on each block in order to respond to adjacent property owner needs.

    This concept was presented to the City of Saint Paul Transportation Committee on July 11, 2022 for final approval and the start of the final design phase of work.   

    Unanimous approval was received and therefore final design was completed in 2022 and included:

    • Internal and external engineering review
    • Intersection design
    • Utility design
    • Design of the streetscape and pedestrian areas 
    • Construction phasing and coordination 

    We appreciate your feedback and input into this process. If you have any other ideas or questions, please reach out to the project team.

    Project Updates