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West 7th Sewer Tunnel Work Starts June 8

The sewer tunnel construction schedule has been adjusted due to Xcel Energy’s continued work at Chestnut Street and West 7th Street.

  • Monday, June 8, sewer work is scheduled to begin at Walnut Street and West 7th Street.
  • West 7th Street will be restricted to one vehicle traffic lane in each direction at Walnut Street in addition to existing lane restrictions near Chestnut Street for Xcel Energy's work.
  • Walnut Street will be closed to thru traffic across West 7th Street.
  • No parking will be allowed in the construction area.
  • Please follow all posted signs.
  • Construction will occur Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Weekend work or evening hours may be approved if needed.
  • Monday, June 22, sewer work is scheduled to begin at the intersection of Chestnut Street and West 7th Street.

Traffic impacts and Business Access

West 7th Street will remain open with one lane in each direction during the city’s sewer work. Parking and temporary traffic restrictions will be in place in the construction area. Sidewalks along West 7th Street will remain open. Walnut Street and Chestnut Street intersections at West 7th Street will be closed at times during the sewer tunnel work. See included maps for Phase 1 and Phase 2 closures and lane restrictions.

Access to businesses and parking lots will be maintained. See included maps for access routes.

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

Map 1 - West 7th Street from Chestnut Street to Kellogg Boulevard

Printable Map 1

Map showing sewer construction area on West 7th from Walnut to Kellogg

Map 2 - West 7th Street at Walnut Street

Printable Map 2

Map showing sewer construction area on West 7th at Walnut

Xcel Energy Work at Chestnut and West 7th Happening Now

Unrelated to the sewer tunnel work, Xcel Energy will be installing electric facilities within the West 7th Street and Chestnut Street intersection beginning the week of April 6, 2026. Xcel’s work is expected to go into June and must be completed before sewer work starts at the Chestnut Street intersection. 

Construction will begin on Chestnut Street the east side of West 7th Street and move west. One lane of traffic on West 7th Street will remain open in each direction during construction. Once work progresses far enough west of West 7th Street, the roadway will fully reopen while construction continues on Chestnut Street.

Printable flyer about Xcel Energy's Work at Chestnut and West 7th

More information about Xcel Energy's Downtown Saint Paul Infrastructure Upgrade work

Questions or business-specific concerns?
Visit xcelenergy.com or contact elisa.rasmussen@xcelenergy.com

Construction schedules are tentative, weather dependent, and subject to change.

Closures and Restrictions in Downtown Saint Paul, June 12, 2026

Construction is happening throughout downtown. Plan accordingly and expect delays. Please follow all posted signs. Road and lane closures will change as construction continues.

Additional event and construction closures that may impact access to downtown Saint Paul:

  • 10 p.m. Friday, June 12 through 5 a.m. Monday, June 15, eastbound I-94 is closed between I-35E and Hwy 10/61 for bridge maintenance.
  • Detour: Northbound I-35E to eastbound I-694 to southbound I-694 (See detour map)
  • More information at https://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/johnirelandbridge/
  • 10 p.m. Tuesday, June 16 to 5 a.m. Wednesday, June 17, I-94 closed between I-35E and Hwy 10/61 for Kellogg-3rd Street bridge deck pour over the interstate.
    • Detour for eastbound I-94 traffic: Northbound I-35E to eastbound I-694 to southbound I-694
    • Detour for westbound I-94 traffic: northbound I-694 to westbound I-694 to southbound I-35E
    • In coordination with this work, Commercial Street East from Mounds Boulevard to the Xcel Energy substation will be closed from Noon Tuesday, June 16 to 6 a.m. Wednesday, June 17. Access to Wakan Tipi and properties on Commercial Street will be from 4th Street East.
    • More information at stpaul.gov/Kellogg-3

For Saint Paul Public Works projects and links to other agencies and their projects, visit www.stpaul.gov/Construction.

For current and upcoming road closures in Saint Paul, visit www.stpaul.gov/RoadClosures.

See below for a map of the road closures and restrictions as of June 15, 2026 - same map as June 8 due to only minor changes.

No major changes to traffic impacts in downtown due to construction. There will be some short-term lane restrictions due to window washing and roofing on private buildings.

  • 4th Street: Lane restrictions between St Peter and Wabasha streets for skyway painting until June 30.
  • 5th Street: Lane restrictions between Wabasha and Cedar streets for Osborn Plaza.
  • 6th Street: 
    • Lane restrictions between Jackson and Minnesota streets for Robert Street construction.
    • Lane restrictions between Cedar and Wabasha streets for District Energy work.
  • 7th Place: 7th Place is closed between Robert and Jackson streets as part of the Robert Street construction project.
  • West 7th Street: Lane restrictions between Walnut Street and Kellogg Boulevard on West 7th for Xcel Energy work (at Chestnut Street) and sewer work (at Walnut Street).
  • East 7th Street: Lane restrictions between Mounds Boulevard and Arcade Street on East 7th for MnDOT work.
  • Chestnut Street: Closed at West 7th Street for Xcel Energy work.
  • Jackson Street:
    • Jackson Street closed to thru traffic from Kellogg Boulevard to Shepard Road for sewer pump station and floodwall work.
    • Jackson Street is open to parking and properties between Kellogg Boulevard and 2nd Street. 2nd Street is open between Jackson and Sibley streets.
    • For more information, visit the city’s Lowertown Floodwall webpage.
  • John Ireland Bridge: Closed for MnDOT reconstruction.
  • Kellogg Boulevard:
    • Westbound lanes closed between West 7th Street and Wabasha Street. Eastbound open only between Wabasha Street and Washington Street. For more information about the CCB Kellogg Phase 2 project, visit stpaul.gov/ccbkellogg2.
    • Lane restrictions between Broadway and Lafayette streets for Xcel Energy work.
    • Kellogg Boulevard/3rd Street bridge remains closed through 2027. Kellogg Boulevard remains closed between Lafayette Street and Mounds Boulevard. For more information about the Kellogg/3rd Street Bridge project, visit: stpaul.gov/Kellogg-3.
  • Lafayette Road:
    • Starting June 8, road closed to all thru traffic at University Avenue.
    • Road closed to northbound traffic at University Avenue.
  • Robert Street: Lane restrictions between Kellogg Boulevard and 9th Street as needed for sidewalk work and final reconstruction work.
  • Shepard Road:
    • Westbound Shepard closed between Eagle Parkway and Sibley Street.
    • Shepard Road closed to thru traffic at I-35E for MnDOT bridge reconstruction.
    • Eastbound will remain open from I-35E to Highway 61.
    • Eastbound Shepard traffic can access downtown from Eagle Parkway and Sibley Street, except no trucks due to tight turns and bridge height.
    • Westbound Shepard traffic can access downtown from Sibley Street, except no trucks due to bridge height.
    • No access from Shepard Road to I-35E southbound.
    • I-35E northbound can exit to eastbound Shepard Road.
    • Shepard Road detour: Lexington Parkway to West 7th Street to Otto Avenue.
    • For more information, visit MnDOT's I-35E and Shepard Road webpage.
  • Temperance Street: Lane restrictions between 7th and 9th streets for roofing work.
  • University Avenue:
  • Wabasha Street: Lane restrictions between 10th Street and Exchange Street for Xcel Energy work.
  • Wacouta Street: Lane restrictions between 6th and 7th streets for Xcel Energy work. Southbound traffic only.
  • Walnut Street: Sewer work at Walnut Street and West 7th Street starts June 8. Lane restrictions on West 7th Street and no thru traffic on Walnut Street.

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

Downtown Construction & Access Map for Monday, June 15, 2026 - same as the June 8, 2026 map

No major changes to traffic impacts in downtown due to construction. There will be some short-term lane restrictions due to window washing and roofing on private buildings.

Map showing road closures and lane restrictions in downtown Saint Paul June 8, 2026

Project Updates