Project locations
Hennepin County plans to make safety and access improvements at four intersections on 42nd Street (County Road 42). The four intersection locations are listed below along with images of the planned designs.
Construction impacts
42nd and Cedar
On Monday, May 8, crews will begin intersection improvement work at 42nd Street East and Cedar Avenue in Minneapolis. This will result in a full closure of the intersection for approximately one month.
This work is intended to improve safety and accessibility for people who drive, walk, roll and bike. Among the improvements:
- Left-turn lanes in all directions
- Sidewalk replacement
- Pedestrian curb bump-outs to reduce crossing distance
- Traffic signal replacement
- Storm sewer replacement
During construction, traffic will be unable to drive through the intersection of 42nd Street East and Cedar Avenue. However, all businesses will remain accessible and people walking, biking and
rolling will still be able to cross.
42nd intersections at 21st, 26th and Nokomis avenues
On Thursday, April 20, crews began intersection improvements along 42nd Street at 21st, 26th, and Nokomis avenues in South Minneapolis. This work is intended to improve safety and accessibility for people who drive, walk, roll and bike. Construction is expected to be complete by mid-June.
Among the improvements coming to these intersections:
- Raised concrete medians to allow people walking, biking or rolling across 42nd Street to do so one lane of traffic at a time
- Pedestrian curb ramps that meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards
Raised concrete medians at 21st and 26th avenues will extend fully across the intersection, which will prevent automobile traffic from crossing 42nd Street, improving the safety of the intersection for all who use it. The raised concrete median at Nokomis Avenue will not extend through the intersection, allowing traffic to flow in all directions as it does today.
Crews will perform work at 21st, 26th and Nokomis avenues under traffic with no need for detours. Expect general traffic lanes to shift as work progresses. Pedestrian access will be maintained, though certain corners may be closed as curb ramp work is conducted.
Detour information
Construction at 42nd Street East and Cedar Avenue will require a full closure of the intersection.
When driving, please follow the signed detour in place for the duration of construction and avoid using neighborhood streets.
The signed Cedar Avenue detour is:
- 38th Street East
- Bloomington Avenue South
- 46th Street East
The signed 42nd Street East detour is:
- Bloomington Avenue South
- 38th Street East
- 28th Avenue South
Transit detour
Two Metro Transit bus routes – 14 and 46 – will be detoured during construction. Bus routes do not follow the same signed detour as other traffic.
Route 14 will detour from Cedar Avenue to:
- 41st Street East
- Longfellow Avenue
- 42nd Street East
Route 46 will detour from Cedar Avenue to:
- 43rd Street East
- Longfellow Avenue
- 42nd Street East
For the safety of residents and buses, the city of Minneapolis will post no parking signs on 41st Street between Cedar and Longfellow avenues and on 43rd Street between Cedar and Longfellow avenues. On Longfellow Avenue between 41st and 43rd Streets, the city will post no parking signs on the west side of the street only.
For additional information on bus routes and detours, please contact Metro Transit.
Connections to agency and county safety plans
The proposed improvements also align with city and county safety plans, specifically:
- Hennepin County’s Americans with Disabilities Act transition, pedestrian, bicycle transportation and roadway safety plans
- City of Minneapolis’ Vision Zero Plan
- Northrop Elementary Safe Routes to School (SRTS) plan