Upgrades to Hennepin bottleneck could be on the way

A Minneapolis City Council committee is expected to give preliminary approval next week to a plan to overhaul the Hennepin-Lyndale corridor near Loring Park.

City officials say more than 50,000 vehicles travel through the area every day, and the pavement, signaling systems and pedestrian crossings are all in need of major upgrades.

Don Elwood -- the director of transportation planning and engineering -- said the upgrades will also make the corridor safer for pedestrians and cyclists, with improved crossings and a sidewalk that's set apart from the bike lanes.

"The current proposal on the east side separates the bikes from the pedestrians. And our proposal is to separate those so you'll have a bike trail and a separate sidewalk," Elwood said.

Current plans call for reducing lane width on both the north- and southbound sides to make room for dedicated turn lanes, he said.

Federal funds are covering 80 percent of the project's $9.1 million budget.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.