Remakes on Minnehaha, Washington avenues highlight county construction

Rebuilding a swath of Minnehaha Avenue and repaving Washington Avenue in Minneapolis' North Loop are among $86 million in construction planned on Hennepin County roads this summer.

Work has started on other big projects, including the rebuilding of Lake Drive in Robbinsdale, where diggers were removing pavement Monday just feet from where county officials outlined plans for the 2015 construction season.

Over the next six months, county crews will repave 140 miles of roads, update 300 pedestrian ramps at intersections, install LED lights at 45 intersections and re-time 73 lights to improve traffic flow.

Here is a rundown on seven major projects:

1. E. Franklin Avenue bridge

Replacing the driving surface will force periodic lane closures, but the bridge will remain open. Pedestrians will have separate sidewalks and bicyclists will have protected lanes. The bridge will be closed for redecking in 2016.

When: April 2015-June 2017

2. Lake Drive/45th Avenue N.)

Crews will reconstruct the road from Victory Memorial Parkway to Bottineau Boulevard (County Road 81). The road is closed to through traffic.

When: Now to spring 2016

Total cost: $10,158,200

3. Minnehaha Avenue

When: Now to November 2016

Total cost: $15,479,837

4. Shady Oak Road

Changes from Excelsior Boulevard to Hwy. 7 will include travel lanes, a sidewalk and multipurpose trail. Crews will also realign the intersection at Hwy. 7 and improve stormwater drainage.

When: Now through fall 2015

5. County Road 101

Work from Minnetonka Boulevard to Hwy. 12 will include grading and resurfacing, adding trails/sidewalks, and improving lighting.

When: Now through fall 2016

Total cost: $41,489,98

6. County Road 101

When: April 2015-November 2016

Total cost: $15,599,077

7. Washington Avenue N.

Resurface and repaint lane markings from Hennepin Avenue to Plymouth Avenue N. Plans include making part of the road one lane in each direction, a continuous center left-turn lane and adding bike lanes.

When: Summer 2015

Tim Harlow • 612-673-7768