Cones and barricades will go up today on a portion of White Bear Avenue on the east side of St. Paul. Ramsey County crews will begin rebuilding the street. It's a project that will last through the summer of 2017.
Officially, White Bear Avenue will be closed to all through traffic between Beech Street and Old Hudson Road, but motorists are asked to use the detour that sends drivers along Old Hudson Road, McKnight Road and Minnehaha Avenue. The intersection of White Bear Avenue and 3rd Street will remain open for cross traffic.
For Metro Transit riders on Routes 63 and 80, passengers can board buses on Hazel Street at 3rd or 5th Street, or on White Bear Avenue north of Minnehaha Avenue.
Here is what is happening: Ramsey County and the city of St. Paul are rebuilding White Bear Avenue to replace deteriorating pavement between I-94 and Beech Street and widen the driving lanes by 6 feet.
Lighting, crossing safety and roadway improvements will be made during the project which will last through summer 2017. The signal system at the intersection of Old Hudson will be replaced, new sidewalks will be put in and lantern-style street lighting will be installed.
In an unrelated closure, the White Bear Avenue Parade will have the road closed from 5:45 to 9:30 p.m. between Maryland Avenue and County Road B.
