Hiawatha-Lake intersection improvements

Highway 55 and County Road 3 in South Minneapolis

The Hiawatha Avenue and Lake Street (County Road 3) intersection, known as Hi-Lake, is being redesigned to create a safer area where people can move more comfortably — and more often — by walking, biking, rolling, and using public transit. Construction of the new design has begun and includes an intersection layout that supports climate-friendly transportation and opportunities for added community space.

This project is led by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), the most recent construction and detour information is available on their website’s project page.

MnDOT project website

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Project information

Hi-Lake is being redesigned to create a safer intersection that supports a more connected community and climate-friendly transportation options. The project goals and permanent changes planned for 2024 reflect the results of a robust engagement process (2017-2019).

View the project layout (PDF)

Changes planned for Hi-Lake are intended to:

Increase safety for all forms of transportation
Add space for people walking, biking, rolling, and using transit
Improve connectivity and access for people across neighborhoods
Support climate-friendly transportation

This is a multi-partner project led by Hennepin County and the City of Minneapolis, and designed by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT). Metro Transit is working in close coordination on the project as it plans B Line Bus Rapid Transit services for Lake Street and considers potential station upgrades at the Lake Street Blue Line LRT station.

Public involvement

Past engagement

Project partners including Hennepin County, City of Minneapolis, Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and Metro Transit worked with community representatives, serving on a Community Advisory Council, to incorporate public feedback into the final design and identify potential community partners to implement space uses after construction is complete.

Since the fall of 2021, the public has been sharing priorities for transforming the areas under the bridge and around the intersection into spaces for community and connection. Projects across the Twin Cities and the nation offered examples of how open spaces underneath bridges can be reimagined for recreation, art, a place for pop-up shops and commerce, or a place for connecting all types of transit and mobility options.

Fall 2022 open house

On October 22, project staff hosted an open house at the Hennepin County Service Center.

2021 engagement

Engagement began in fall 2021, the public was invited to determine the best use of the areas under and around the bridge at the Hi-Lake intersection. Other projects in the Twin Cities and across the nation offer examples of how creative public and private partnerships and community input can transform these spaces into places for community and connection.

The project held two virtual open houses in late winter, with Spanish and Somali translation available. The project has also been present at the following events

Open Streets, Lake Street
Corcoran Neighborhood back-to-school night
East Lake Library
Arbiter Brewing happy hour
East Phillips Improvement Coalition community healing night
Minneapolis South High School kick-off football game

Contact information

Hennepin County

Jason Staebell, P.E.
Project manager
jason.staebell@hennepin.us
612-596-0371

City of Minneapolis

Kyle Wallace
Construction management coordinator
kyle.b.wallace@minneapolismn.gov
612-673-3885

Minnesota Department of Transportation

Jesse Johnson
Communications and Engagement
jesse.johnson@state.mn.us
612-246-5624