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 is in 2025 with clean up and any remaining items in 2026
Tags

    Share your thoughts: Public Art on Grand Avenue

    Please take a short survey about the opportunity for public art on Grand Avenue between Snelling Avenue and Fairview Avenue. This survey will help inform the artist 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. The survey is open until October 6.

    Take the Public Art Survey

    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.

    Grand Avenue Adjusted Schedule

    Printable Grand Avenue Adjusted Schedule flyer - August 19, 2025

    Image showing the Grand Avenue update and adjusted construction schedule August 19, 2025. Click for ADA accessible PDF.

    Grand Avenue Construction Update

    This week (September 8-13)

    Grand Avenue and Fairview Avenue intersection:

    • Signals are installed
      • We are coordinating with Excel Energy to connect power to the signals.
      • After Excel connects the power, we will activate the signals.
    • The final layers of asphalt are anticipated to be paved in late September
      • Following paving, lane striping will be completed.

    Grand Avenue between Fairview and Snelling avenues:

    • Crews have begun working behind the sidewalks in the boulevards (adding topsoil and prepping for any landscape activities).
    • Crews continue preparing for sidewalk installation on both sides of Grand Avenue between Wheeler and Macalester streets.
    • Crews will soon begin pouring sidewalks on the south side between Wheeler and Macalester streets.
      • Staff will be stopping by to coordinate and maintain access to your business.
      • Please follow any posted signs as work occurs in the area.

    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.
    • Macalester College has completed installation of their median planter beds.
      • Our crews are preparing to patch the asphalt pavement near the raised pedestrian crosswalks.
    • Macalester College has begun construction on the north side between Cambridge and Macalester streets.

    Next week (September 15-20)

    Grand Avenue between Fairview and Snelling avenues:

    • Crews will begin pouring sidewalks on both sides of Grand Avenue between Wheeler and Macalester streets.
    • Staff will be stopping by to coordinate and maintain access to your business.
      • Please follow any posted signs as work occurs in the area.
    • Xcel Energy will soon begin work for Macalester College.
      • Work will occur on the north side of Grand Avenue between Cambridge and Macalester streets.

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

    Grand Avenue closed from Fairview Avenue to Snelling Avenue

    • 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 follow any posted signs along Grand Avenue as pedestrian access will change as crews work in the area.
    • 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
    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 September 17 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 - September 17
    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

    • If you would like "Grand Avenue is open for business" window clings or posters, a customized business access map, or have other questions about business support, please email us at 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