Hennepin Avenue is a critical transportation corridor that will be transformed for future generations. The goals of this project are to improve conditions for all modes and make the corridor even greener.
The full reconstruction of Hennepin Avenue South is needed due to the age and deteriorated condition of the street, and the new layout will improve pedestrian safety, fill a bicycle network gap, include space for dedicated transit lanes and incorporate green stormwater infrastructure improvements.
Reconstructing our most constrained corridors is challenging, But projects like this also provide the greatest opportunity to make bold changes to advance mode shift goals, greenhouse gas reduction and reductions in vehicle miles traveled. Investment in trees and carbon offset are a priority for the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board (MPRB) and the City with the mayor’s budget addition of a tree program coordinator.
Building a new corridor requires substantial removal of existing hard surfaces as well as the natural environment. Two recent examples of such corridor work in Minneapolis are located downtown along Hennepin Avenue and Fourth Street. The process involves extensive underground work to upgrade critical utility infrastructure including water and sewer services, natural gas and electrical needs as well as telecommunications, lighting, signals, transit facilities and irrigation needs. The corridor reconstruction will impact most of the existing trees.
The corridor vision includes more innovative green space than what is currently on Hennepin today. Additional planted areas are supported by green storm water infrastructure that helps our natural environment by capturing water runoff, allowing the water to soak into the ground and not through pipes to adjacent bodies of water.
Tree removal is not taken lightly, and the project team is working with MPRB on a complete tree inventory. The inventory will include the tree type, size, health and current condition. The design will deliver a greener corridor from what we have today as well as a natural environment that can thrive and not just survive. We can accomplish this by getting the right green features at the right locations.
In addition to the trees that are not impacted, replacement trees will be added to the corridor. The new trees will be larger beginning on day one, and the final corridor will have more trees than exist today. Adding and improving green infrastructure is a vital element to every street reconstruction project.
Hennepin Avenue is a critical transportation and business corridor. As the team completes final design leading up to construction in 2024, please stay connected through the Hennepin project page and email list: https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/projects/hennepin-ave-s/
