Snelling projects looming

Bridge work, mill work, overlay, lighting, median plantings, and bus stations all in the mix of projects planned in 2015

 By JANE MCCLURE

Much of Snelling Ave., and its bridge over Interstate 94, will have a new look by fall. By year’s end new bus rapid transit service will be up and running as well, when the A Line starts service.

That’s exciting news for area residents and business owners, but getting there is likely to cause some pain. A mill and overlay project on Snelling from Pierce Butler Rte. to Snelling Ave., bridge re-decking, construction of in-street bus platforms and an array of streetscape and sidewalk improvements will mean detours at times for all types of travelers.

Lump in upcoming work on the I-94-Fairview Ave. bridge, as well as street projects along the current Route 84 bus line and it could be a long construction season.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), Metro Transit and St. Paul, Minneapolis and Ramsey County departments of Public Works staff have been working to get the word out about the various projects. One message, at two Jan. 26 open houses, was that motorists and bus commuters need to plan their routes and travel schedules now to avoid disruption later.

“We’re coordinating the projects as much as we can,” said Katie Roth, Metro Transit A Line project manager. But she noted there will be delays.

Eric Rustad is a MnDOT engineer working on the Snelling project. “It’s always tough when you have to do a project in a busy urban area,” he said. But he maintained the long-term benefits should outweigh the inconveniences.

A Line station construction this year, in anticipation of a service start in late 2015, prompted MnDOT to move up its plans for Snelling and the bridge. Metro Transit plans to put 20 bus platforms in the street to create A Line stations, as part of the $25 million rapid bus project. The bus service will extend from Rosedale Center  to the Blue Line Light Rail’s 46th Street Station.

MnDOT and city officials said the A Line work means it makes sense to redo Snelling and the bridge now, rather than have to remove platforms later.

Rustad said MnDOT’s intent is to keep one lane of traffic on Snelling open in one direction at all times during the mill and overlay work. If the street has to be closed down in one direction the contractor would pay a “lane rental” charge. The one exception is a weekend closing between Minnehaha Ave. and Pierce Butler Rte., when the city will do storm sewer line work in conjunction with the project.

A multimodal transportation study of Snelling, which was led by MnDOT, was completed in January 2013. Ward Four Council Member Russ Stark said those who participated in the study didn’t expect some aspects of the study, such as accessible crosswalks, new street lighting and median plantings, to be implemented so soon. “It’s been a bit of a race for us to catch up,” said Stark.

He sees both projects as having the long-term benefit of helping to revitalize Snelling in the Hamline-Midway neighborhood. “We have several vacant storefronts along north Snelling and that’s a concern,” he said. A resurfaced street and streetscape improvements could entice new businesses to come in. “North Snelling could use a little TLC.”

Both MnDOT and Metro Transit projects are to go out for bid in March, with work starting in May. Much of the early focus for both projects will be in the north.

The big disruption will come when the freeway bridge is closed and bridge re-decking starts in May and continues until August. Travelers should watch for detours. On some weekends, I-94 will be closed, so area residents should expect heavier traffic on east-west streets. Detours will be posted in advance.

All projects take a break during the Minnesota State Fair, so that Snelling can be open for traffic. Snelling needs to reopen Aug. 22 and stay open until Sept. 8. “As we know the state fair rules that area,” Roth said.

It’s hoped work on Snelling will be completed by November.

The two open houses on the Snelling and bus projects drew dozens of people. MnDOT’s open house at Hamline University gave neighborhood residents and business owners a chance to ask questions about the Snelling mill, overlay, and bridge re-decking. Staff answered questions and gathered information on everything from when businesses and institutions along Snelling are open, to which neighborhood events and festivals could potentially be affected by work.

Metro Transit’s presentation and open house at Macalester College provided information about the bus station platform construction. That event itself drew more than 30 people, with questions about loss of parking, bus service times and other issues.

Pre-construction work to relocate utilities around the Snelling-I-94 area has already caused traffic backups and detours. Snelling traffic, and traffic on adjacent streets, is impacted until Feb. 14 due to the closing of St. Anthony Ave. between Pascal St. and Snelling. There have also been lane closures on southbound Snelling. Cars can still use the westbound ramp to I-94. Trucks are being detoured along University to Vandalia St.