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All-Star Game festivities could spell traffic hassles for commuters

Getting to the festivities - or just to the office for that matter - , could be tricky, whether that be by car, bus or bicycle. A number of streets will be completely shut down from Friday through Tuesday while commuters will find short-term and periodic closures on others.

By Tim Harlow

July 11, 2014 at 3:56PM

(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Downtown Minneapolis will be the place to find all sorts of fun over the next five days, what with this weekend's Basilica Block Party and events leading up to Tuesday's Major League Baseball's All-Star Game at Target Field.

But getting to the festivities - or just to the office for that matter - could be tricky, whether that be by car, bus or bicycle. A number of streets will be completely shut down from Friday through Tuesday while commuters will find short-term and periodic closures on others. And they'll be scattered throughout downtown, not just near the stadium.

(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

There are so many closures that I posted the color-coded map above to help identify what's closed and when (They are spelled out below). Click here for a full-size pdf. Prepare now to use alternate routes, and be ready for lots extra vehicular and foot traffic on streets that remain open.

No less than 10 Metro Transit routes will be on detour from 9 a.m. Friday through 6 p.m. Wednesday. they include routes that normally run on 6th Street between 1st Avenue N. and Hennepin. Here is where to catch routes 14, 94, 134, 355, 365, 375, 643, 649, 663, 758 and 764. On Monday and Tuesday, buses that normally run on Nicollet Mall will be shifted to Hennepin Avenue Buses that operate on 7th Street between Marquette Avenue and 10th Street North also will be on detour, Metro Transit said.

The biggest traffic disruptions will likely be on Tuesday when the I-394 ramp into downtown will be closed off for three hours when the Red Carpet parade takes place on Nicollet Mall. Traffic will be diverted to the 6th and 4th Street exits as well as Washington Avenue from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

During that time frame, Nicollet Mall will be closed as will 7th Street from Marquette Avenue to 10th Street north of Target Field. Traffic will not be allowed to cross Nicollet Mall west of 6th Street from 10 p.m. Monday through 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. That will put extra pressure on 4th, 3rd, 2nd Streets and Washington Avenues.

"That could make it a bit challenging to get around," said Jon Wertjes of the Minneapolis Public Works Department. "Come early and stay late, that is one of our mottos. Give yourself extra time. Enjoy yourself, don't be rushed and don't let it become a headache."

His advice for commuters who want to get home: "Leave early."

While Tuesday could be the most problematic for commuters, expect things to get more difficult as the weekend rolls on. Many people will begin arriving Friday when the Fan Fest opens at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Traffic volumes will likely increase as the weekend progresses, Wortjes said.

"We have had capacity events and managed traffic around them in the past, but there will be a few unique wrinkles with the All-Star Game," Wertjes said.

To help with the expected crush, Metro Transit said it will operate special Northstar trains Saturday through Tuesday and extra light-rail trains will be in service on the METRO Blue and METRO Green lines as needed. Find Northstar schedules here.

All-Star Game long-term closures

6th Street between 1st Avenue N. and Hennepin Avenue N. by Target Center: 9 a.m. Friday through midnight Tuesday.
Grant Street and 2nd Avenue S. between Marquette Avenue and 12th Street near the Minneapolis Convention Center, 12:01 a.m. Friday through midnight Tuesday.
4th Avenue S. between 4th and 5th Streets, 8 a.m. Sunday through midnight Tuesday.
Twins Way from Royalston Avenue and N. 7th Street, 10 a.m. Sunday through midnight Tuesday.

All-Star Game short and periodic closures

Nicollet Mall from Alice Rainville Place to 6th Street South – Closed from 10 p.m. Monday to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday for the Red Carpet Show. There will be additional one-block closures for cross streets leading up to the parade. Drivers who use parking ramps along affected streets will be able to use those ramps during the closure.
7th Street, from Marquette Avenue to 10th Street North – Closed from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday for the Red Carpet Parade.
5th Street North, from 5th Avenue North to 3rd Avenue North – Closed from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
West River Parkway, from 4th Avenue North to 13th Avenue South – Closed 7 p.m. Monday to 1:30 a.m. Tuesday. The section of the parkway from Portland Avenue to 11th Avenue South will close all day Monday until 10 a.m. Tuesday.
2nd Street South, from Portland Avenue to 11th Avenue South – Closed from 9 p.m. Monday to 1:30 a.m. Tuesday. Side streets along this stretch will also be closed to Washington Avenue during this time.
3rd Avenue North ramp to I-394 – Closed intermittently Sunday through Tuesday. However, it will be open to buses to Ramp B only.
2nd Street South, from Portland Avenue to 11th Avenue South – Closed from 9 p.m. Monday to 1:30 a.m. Tuesday. Side streets along this stretch will also be closed to Washington Avenue during this time.
3rd Avenue North ramp to I-394 – Closed intermittently Sunday through Tuesday. However, it will be open to buses to Ramp B only.

Here is a schedule of All-Star Game events:Friday, July 11 - Tuesday, July 15

T-Mobile All-Star FanFest at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Friday-Monday, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Tuesday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

For more information and tickets, visit the All-Star FanFest website.

Saturday, July 12

Target All-Star Concert presented by Budweiser at TCF Bank Stadium, 7:30 p.m.-10 p.m. (tickets are required and gates open at 5:30 p.m.)

Sunday, July 13

The Color Run MLB All-Star 5K presented by Nike at the Minnesota State Fair Grounds, 8:30 a.m.

Taco Bell All-Star Sunday at Target Field featuring the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, 4 p.m. (gates open at 2 p.m.)

Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game (following Futures game), approximately 7:30 p.m.

For information and tickets visit the All-Star Sunday website.

Sunday, July 13 - Tuesday, July 15

MLB All-Star Summer Pepsi Block Party on 6^th Street at 1^st Avenue, Noon -7 p.m.

Monday, July 14

Gatorade All-Star Workout Day at Target Field featuring: The Gillette Home Run Derby

7 p.m. (gates open at 4 p.m.)

Tuesday, July 15

All-Star Red Carpet Show presented by Chevrolet, 1 p.m.
Nicollet Mall

Parade is free and open to the public. A great opportunity to see the All-Star players in person if you're not attending the game. 85th MLB All-Star Game at Target Field, 6:30 p.m. (gates open at 3:30 p.m.)

about the writer

Tim Harlow

Reporter

Tim Harlow covers traffic and transportation issues in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, and likes to get out of the office, even during rush hour. He also covers the suburbs in northern Hennepin and all of Anoka counties, plus breaking news and weather.