Description
The City of Saint Paul reconstructed Grand Avenue between Fairview Avenue and Snelling Avenue in 2025. 

The intersection of Grand Avenue and Snelling Avenue will be improved in 2026. The 2026 construction project includes:

  • Bumpouts at all four corners to improve pedestrian crossings at the intersection
  • New traffic signals
  • Sewer and water utility work
  • Street resurfacing of the intersection

The Public Works goals of the Grand Avenue 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
  • Grand Avenue and Snelling Avenue intersection

Timeline

  • Community engagement started in 2022 and was completed in early 2023
  • Grand Avenue between Fairview Avenue and Snelling Avenue was completed in 2025.
  • Grand Avenue and Snelling Avenue intersection in 2026
Tags

Construction begins Monday, July 13 at the Grand and Snelling Intersection

Monday, July 20 through mid-August Grand Avenue closes between Macalester Street and Snelling Avenue 

  • Construction activities and lane restrictions on Snelling Avenue and Grand Avenue begin Monday, July 13.
  • Snelling Avenue will remain open with one lane of traffic in each direction throughout most of construction, with the possibility of limited closures during paving work.
  • Traffic will be detoured via Hamline, St. Clair, and Fairview avenues (printable detour map).
Map showing detour during Grand and Snelling Construction. Detour on Fairview, St Clair, and Hamline.

Anticipated Construction Schedule and Intersection Closures

  • Grand Avenue between Macalester Street and Snelling Avenue is scheduled to be closed July 20 through mid-August for work on the west side of the Grand and Snelling intersection.
  • The east side of the intersection is scheduled to be closed mid-August through late summer.
  • Construction work is occurring at the intersection only.

Local and business access

  • Grand Avenue will remain open for business access and parking.
  • Starting July 20, to access businesses on Grand Avenue west of Snelling Avenue between Fairview and Snelling avenues, use Fairview Avenue or Summit Avenue to Macalester or Cambridge streets (printable local access map).
  • Grand Avenue east of Snelling will remain accessible from Snelling Avenue or Hamline Avenue, along with side streets.
  • Parking and deliveries will be available using alleys and side streets.
Map showing business access during Grand and Snelling intersection work and closure of Grand between Macalester and Snelling July 20 to mid-August 2026. Local access on Summit and side streets.

Pedestrian access during construction

  • Pedestrian access will be maintained around the work zone to safely cross Grand Avenue and Snelling Avenue.
  • Pedestrian access across Grand Avenue between Macalester Street and Snelling Avenue will be maintained at the raised pedestrian crossings.
  • Pedestrians should follow posted detour signs around the work zone.

Bus Stops and Routes

  • METRO A Line bus:
    • Starting Monday, July 20 Snelling & Grand stations will be closed.
    • Temporary stops will be at Snelling Avenue and Summit Avenue.
  • Route 63 bus:
    • Beginning Monday, July 13, Grand & Snelling westbound stop will be closed. Temporary stop on Grand Avenue just west of Snelling Avenue. Grand & Cambridge stop will remain open.
    • Starting Monday, July 20, Route 63 will be detoured off Grand Avenue from Fairview Avenue to Summit Avenue to Hamline Avenue. Temporary stops will be on Summit Avenue at Snelling and Pascal Street.
  • For more detailed information see Metro Transit's webpage.

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

Virtual Business Office Hours 

This is an opportunity for businesses to ask questions and to discuss any concerns they have with the project team.

Tuesday, July 14
10:30 - 11 a.m.

Join the Microsoft Teams meeting online: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/254301870118083?p=db2oKPjuGb4ktIy1NU
(Meeting ID: 254 301 870 118 083; Passcode: wZ3TC3r2
(No need to download Teams. Join in your web browser.)

Call in: 612-315-7905; Conference ID: 532 715 568# 
(on cell phones, one click dialing: +1 612-315-7905,,532715568# )

Help care for the newly planted trees

A young tree needs about 20 gallons of water a week. Place a hose close to the tree and run the water at a trickly for about 2 hours once a week.

Request a FREE watering bag by calling Parks and Recreation at 651-266-6400 or completing the online watering bag request form.

Protect young trees from damage by nearby sidewalk furniture, activities, or equipment. Trees can die from bark damage.

Grand Avenue Reopening Celebration

Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter cuts ribbon on newly reconstructed Grand Avenue.

Thank you for joining us at the Grand Avenue Reopening Celebration held on October 21, 2025. Our community celebration was complete with fun activities, music, and a ribbon cutting on the newly reconstructed Grand Avenue. Check out the City of Saint Paul's YouTube channel to view the reopening festivities and hear from Grand Avenue business owners.

Grand Avenue Reopening YouTube

Thank you to the local businesses, Mac-Groveland Community Council, Grand Avenue Business Association, and Macalester College for your support and partnership throughout construction and in celebrating the reopening.

Image of Grand Avenue construction crawl card

Construction Crawl Card Ended October 31

Thanks to all the businesses and shoppers that participated in the construction crawl.

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

Public Art on Grand Avenue

Thanks to everyone who took the Public Art survey for Grand Avenue between Snelling Avenue and Fairview Avenue. Your survey responses will help inform the artist who will create the public art to be installed in the project area. As part of street reconstruction projects 1% of the project cost is dedicated to public art. The public art budget for the Grand Avenue project is $40,000. 

Saint Paul’s 1% Public Art Ordinance: Quick Overview

Saint Paul’s Public Art Ordinance arose from the aspiration and vision of civic leaders, artists and the community for a creative city at the headwaters of the Mississippi River. It arose from decades of exploration and observation as the City planned its future, as its population diversified, and as the practice of public art evolved. The Ordinance emerged in 2009 as a powerful tool that places artists at the core of civic action in shaping the form and experience of the city.

Adopted in 2009, this ordinance mandates dedicating 1% of eligible capital project budgets toward public art, ensuring that art is built into city development from the start. Managed in collaboration with Public Art Saint Paul (PASP), the city's nonprofit art partner, artists are embedded early in planning to help shape public spaces in meaningful ways.

Project Updates 2026

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