Description
The City of Saint Paul plans to reconstruct University Avenue from I-35E to Lafayette Road in 2025 and 2026. The roadway is approximately ¼ mile, serves multiple modes of transportation, and provides access to several properties through a primarily industrial area.  The intersection of Lafayette Road and University Avenue is part of this work, but the design has not yet been finalized.  

Project improvements include improved curbs and pedestrian ramps, sidewalk updates, new road surface, more trees, shared use walk/bike path, new street lighting, and replacement of underground utilities as needed.

Location
University Avenue from I-35E to Lafayette Road

Timeline
2025 - 2026

University Avenue Reconstruction design map.
Tags

    Nearby Work

    The Lafayette Road bridge between University Avenue and Otsego Street will be closed starting October 29, 2025, for bridge rehabilitation work. The bridge will be fully closed to all traffic for 30 days and will reopen to traffic at the end of November 2025.

    Work Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

    Traffic Detours: 

    • Lafayette Road will be closed from University Avenue to Otsego Street.
    • During the closure, traffic will be rerouted via Payne Street to 7th Street to Lafayette Road.
    • Please follow detour signs for posted alternative route and allow for additional travel time. 

    Project Updates

    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.