Construction hasn't yet begun on the Southwest light-rail line, but downtown Hopkins is already prepared for the train's arrival.
Work is nearly complete on "The Artery," the transformation of a multi-block stretch near Hopkins' historic Mainstreet into a "pedestrian seductive" space that is friendlier to biking and walking. It connects two regional bike trails on either side of downtown, and will be a welcome mat for the future downtown Hopkins light rail station — assuming the line begins service as scheduled in 2023.
"It's to create a special experience for, say, a pedestrian that's going to draw them to downtown Hopkins," said Nate Stanley, city engineer.
The redesigned corridor runs on 8th Avenue from Excelsior Boulevard past Mainstreet. The street has been converted into a one-way, with an elevated bike lane and wider sidewalks replacing some of the space previously used by vehicles. The project gets its name from the array of public art that is being installed.
"We've used aesthetics [on] everything from the pavement all the way up to custom lighting," Stanley said, referring to lights suspended over the street on wires.
Workers are installing art pieces along the corridor this spring, including a giant dragonfly wing that will do double duty as public art and a traffic gate to close off the street for events. The grand opening is on June 2.
"This area is intended to be used by the public for public events … whether it's car shows or Raspberry Days, or street festivals sponsored by private entities," Stanley said.
The sculptor of the dragonfly wing, Stan Sears, has designed other public art along the Twin Cities light rail system. He studied dragonfly wings under a magnifying glass to better understand their three-dimensional shape.
