Crosstown Blues

Weekly Update

For the week of April 14, 2008

Public Information Events

Crosstown staff will be available to answer questions about the project at the following event:

Kenny Neighborhood Meeting

Tuesday, April 15

7:00 pm

AnthonyMiddle School

5757 Irving Ave S, Minneapolis

General Updates

I-35W Closure: April 25-28

A closure of I-35W between I-94 and Hwy 62 is scheduled from 10:00 pm Friday, April 25 to 5:00 am Monday, April 28; weather permitting.  Construction activities during this closure include the demolition of the 46^th Street bridge, bridgework at 50^th Street and utility work across the freeway at Diamond Lake Road and 46^th Street.

46^th Street Bridge to Close on April 25

The 46^th Street bridge remains open; however, the bridge is scheduled to be demolished theweekend of April 25; weather permitting.  In preparation for the bridge demolition, the 46^th Street bridge will be closed at 9:00 am on Friday, April 25. The 46^th Street bridge is scheduled to re-open in spring 2009.

Upcoming Hwy 62 Weekend Closure

A weekend closure of Hwy 62 between Penn Ave and the western junction of I-35W is tentatively scheduled for early May.  The freeway closure is needed to conduct utility work across Hwy 62. More details to follow in upcoming updates.

I-35W and Hwy 62 Nighttime Lane Closures

Occasional nighttime lane closures on I-35W and Hwy 62 between 9:30 pm and 6 am may occur.For up-to-date information on highway construction, traffic, detours and delays call 511 or go to www.511mn.org.

Freeway Ramp Closures

The following ramps are closed or tentatively scheduled to close:

Lyndale Ave

Lyndale Ave exit ramp from westbound Hwy 62 to Lyndale Ave S

Approximate closure date: Early May 2008

Approximate re-opening: September 2009

Lyndale Ave entrance ramp to eastbound Hwy 62/northbound I-35W

Status: Closed

Approximate re-opening: September 2009

Lyndale Ave exit ramp from eastbound Hwy 62 to Lyndale Ave S

Status:  Closed

Approximate re-opening: September 2009

Penn Ave

Penn Ave entrance ramp to eastbound Hwy 62

Status:  Closed

Approximate re-opening: July 2009

46^th Street

46^th Street exit ramp from southbound I-35W

Approximate closure date: Closed

Approximate re-opening: October 2010

46^th Street entrance ramp to southbound I-35W

Status: Closed

Approximate re-opening: October 2010

46^th Street exit ramp from northbound I-35W

Approximate closure date: Closed

Approximate re-opening: October 2009

46^th Street entrance ramp to northbound I-35W

Status: Closed

Approximate re-opening: October 2009

66^th Street

66^th Street entrance ramp to northbound I-35W

Status: Closed

Approximate re-opening: June 2010

Portland Ave

Portland Ave exit ramp from eastbound Hwy 62

Status: Closed

Approximate re-opening: Fall 2008

Project Areas

Penn Ave

Traffic on eastbound Hwy 62 between Penn Ave and the junction of I-35W has been rerouted to travel along westbound lanes of Hwy 62. Pavement demolition of the "old" lanes of eastbound Hwy 62 continue through the end of next week.

Penn Ave entrance ramp to eastbound Hwy 62: Closed

The Penn Ave entrance ramp to eastbound Hwy 62 is closed. The ramp is scheduled to reopen in July 2009.

Western Junction of I-35W and Hwy 62

Bridge work at the western junction of I-35W and Hwy 62 continues.

Hwy 121

Bridge work in the area continues.

LyndaleAveBridge Area

Construction activities continue around the Lyndale Ave bridge area. Daytime construction activities next week include pile driving. To accommodate utility work in the area, Lyndale Ave at Crosstown will continue to be one lane in each direction through the end of April.

Lyndale Ave Freeway Ramps

§         The Lyndale Avenue exit ramp from westbound Hwy 62/southbound I-35W remains open, but is scheduled to close in early May 2008.

§         The Lyndale Ave exit from eastbound Hwy 62 is closed. 

§         The Lyndale Avenue entrance ramp to eastbound Hwy 62/northbound I-35W is closed.

Bridge Work at Soo Railroad (between Lyndale Ave S and Nicollet Ave S)

Bridge work continues.

NicolletAveBridge Area

Bridge work continues.

Eastern Junction of I-35W and Hwy 62

Bridge work at the eastern junction of I-35W and Hwy 62 continues.

PortlandAveBridge Area

Retaining wall construction activities continue.

Portland Ave exit ramp from eastbound Hwy 62: Closed

The Portland Avenue exit ramp fromeastbound Highway 62 is closed. The ramp closure is needed for crews to conduct retaining wall construction. The ramp will re-open by fall 2008.

60^th Street Bridge Area

Construction activities resume around the 60^th Street bridge area. Daytime construction activities next week include pile driving. Nighttime activities between 10 pm and 6am may occur for a few nights during the week of April 21. Nighttime construction activities require that 60^th Street be closed (see Road Closures under Neighborhood Updates for more details).

DiamondLakeRoadBridge and Ramps Open

The Diamond Lake Road bridge and all freeway ramps are available. However, short-term closures over the next couple of months may be needed to complete remaining work in the area. Sidewalks on Diamond Lake Road bridge remain closed and are scheduled to re-open in early summer 2008. Pedestrian access is available at 60^th Street and Minnehaha Parkway.

MinnehahaParkwayBridge Area

Bridge construction at Minnehaha Parkway and southbound I-35W continues. The construction activities will not impact traffic on I-35W.The bridge construction requires that Minnehaha Parkway be closed through April 18, 2008 (see Neighborhood Updates for more details). 

50^th Street Bridge Area

Work on the 50^th Street bridge resumes. Next week, crews will remove the old bridge abutment on the west side and then begin construction of the new abutment. Pile driving in the area may begin in early May. During the I-35W closure scheduled from April 25-28, bridge beams will be set on the eastern portion of the bridge. The 50^th Street bridge is tentatively scheduled to re-open in fall 2008.

46^th Street Bridge Area

The 46^th Street bridge remains open. Daytime construction activities next week include excavating and grading for retaining wall construction. The 46^th Street bridge is scheduled to be removed the weekend of April 25; weather permitting. In preparation for the bridge demolition, the 46^th Street bridge will be closed at 9:00 am on Friday, April 25. The bridge is tentatively scheduled to re-open in spring 2009.

46^th Street Freeway Ramps: Closed

All freeway ramps at 46^th Street are closed. Ramps are scheduled to re-open in 2009 and 2010.

Neighborhood Updates

Road Closures

60^th Street at I-35W

60^th Street at I-35W is tentatively scheduled to close for a few nights during the week of April 21. More details to follow in upcoming updates. The closure is needed to transfer fill from the southwest corner of the 60^th Street bridge area to the northwest corner.

Minnehaha Parkway at I-35W Closure Extended

The closure of Minnehaha Parkway at I-35W has been extended until Friday, April 25. The extended closure is needed so that crews can continue to work on bridge construction near Minnehaha Parkway for the widening of southbound I-35W. Minnehaha Parkway is expected to re-open prior to the removal of the 46^th Street bridge, which is tentatively scheduled for weekend of April 25. Motorists can cross I-35W at 42nd Street, 46th Street, Diamond Lake Road and 60th Street. During the closure, at least one pedestrian or bike path along Minnehaha Creek at I-35W will remain open; however, the path may be intermittently closed to safely conduct work.

Pile Driving

Daytime pile driving continues to occur throughout the project. Pile driving may occur between 6 am and 6 pm. In the upcoming week, pile driving will occur in the following areas:

Minneapolis

Northwest corner of 60^th Street and I-35W

Duration: One to two days

Richfield

Southeast corner of Lyndale Ave and Crosstown

Duration: through April

Noise Wall Demolition

Existing noise walls along the Crosstown Project areas are being be taken down. Understanding the importance of the noise walls for neighborhoods, existing noise walls will be kept in place as long as possible and construction of new noise walls will be done as quickly as possible.

The following noise walls are scheduled to be removed:

Location: Along southbound I-35W near Stevens Avenue between 51^st Street and Minnehaha Creek.

Approximate removal: Week of April21

Road Changes

Lyndale Ave at Crosstown

To accommodate utility work in the area, Lyndale Ave at Crosstown will continue to be one lane in each direction through the end of April.

Stevens Ave from 45^th Street to 50^th Street*

To facilitate construction activities, including retaining wall construction, Stevens Ave from 45^th Street to 50^th Street has been changed to a one-way, one lane road going south. Pavement demolition of the closed portion of Stevens Ave continues through the end of next week.

2^nd Ave from 50^th Street to 42^nd Street*

To facilitate construction activities, including retaining wall construction, 2^nd Ave from 50^th Street to 42^nd Street has been changed to a one-way, one lane road going north.

*Concrete barriers are placed in the roadway to protect residents and motorists from construction activities. The barriers will be in place until construction activities are complete. Because of the road width reduction, parking along the construction zone is not allowed.