Metro Transit will replace light-rail trains with buses on portions of the Blue Line from 7:30 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. Tuesday as crews perform maintenance work between Target Field Station in downtown Minneapolis to the 46th Street Station. The Blue Line is the new name for the Hiawatha Line, which runs along Hwy. 55 from downtown Minneapolis to the Mall of America in Bloomington.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, buses will fill in for trains between Franklin Avenue and 46th Street Station from 7:30 p.m. Tuesday to 3:30 a.m. Wednesday and the same hours from Wednesday evening to Thursday morning.
From 7:30 p.m. Thursday to 3:30 a.m. Friday, trains will not operate between the 46th Street Station and Fort Snelling Station.
Passengers will be directed to Route 55 buses, which will travel on streets near the light-rail line. They are reminded that trips by bus will take longer than those by train, so extra time will be necessary to reach their destinations or to make connections to other bus routes.
Crews will be smoothing the tracks and making repairs to make for a better ride, agency spokesman John Siqveland said.
More overnight closures will take place through July 18, Metro Transit said.
