Description
The City of Saint Paul will reconstruct Grand Avenue between Fairview Avenue and Snelling Avenue in 2025. This project was originally planned to begin in 2024 but was postponed due to timing considerations and scheduling concerns. Construction will be completed in two sections to stay on schedule while maintaining access to businesses, properties, and Macalester College.

The Public Works goals of the project are to: 

  • Improve safety along the corridor, with an emphasis on pedestrian crossing safety
  • Upgrade and modernize ageing infrastructure
  • Improve built environment to better serve Grand Avenue businesses
  • Improve transit user experience
  • Balance mode share to encourage non-automotive trips along and to the corridor
  • Improve pedestrian crossing interactions/placemaking through Macalester College campus

Location
Grand Avenue from Fairview Avenue to Snelling Avenue

Timeline

  • Community engagement started in 2022 and was completed in early 2023
  • Construction is in 2025 with clean up and any remaining items in 2026
Tags

    Grand Avenue Reopening Celebration October 21, 4-6 p.m.

    As major activities on Grand Avenue are wrapping up, we would like to invite you to celebrate the reopening of Grand Avenue from Fairview to Snelling with us!

    Grand Avenue Reopening
    Tuesday, October 21
    4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
    On Grand Avenue between Macalester Street and Wheeler Street

    Join us for a community celebration and ribbon cutting for the newly reconstructed Grand Avenue! Enjoy fun activities, music, and check out the local businesses for dinner or shopping.

    Thank you to the local businesses, Mac-Groveland Community Council, Grand Avenue Business Association, and Macalester College for your support and partnership throughout construction and in celebrating the reopening.

    Print and share the Grand Avenue Reopening Celebration flyer.

    Grand Avenue Reopening flyer with text: Grand Avenue reopening Tuesday, October 21 4-6 p.m. on Grand Avenue between Macalester and Wheeler Streets

    Grand Avenue Construction Update

    This week (October 13-17)

    Fairview Avenue intersection remains partially open to traffic

    • You can travel north or south on Fairview Avenue and only west on Grand Avenue. Eastbound Grand Avenue remains closed.

    Grand Avenue between Fairview and Snelling avenues:

    • Street sign and sod installation will be completed.
    • Macalester College construction continues.
      • Crews continue to work on the north side between Cambridge and Macalester streets.
      • Crews will move their construction fence to the edge of the temporary asphalt surface.
      • Xcel Energy work is wrapping up. Once electric utility installation work is completed, they will remove their existing utility pole.

    Next week (October 20-24)

    Grand Avenue between Fairview and Snelling avenues:

    • Final paving work and center lane striping are scheduled to occur on Monday, October 20.
      • Paving work is anticipated to be completed in one day. Work may go late into the evening.
      • The intersections of Wheeler, Cambridge, and Macalester streets will be closed for the day.
        • Wheeler and Macalester streets will reopen after paving is completed on Monday, October 20
        • Cambridge Street intersection will reopen Tuesday, October 21, after the reopening celebration.
      • The intersections of Fairview and Snelling avenues will remain open to north and south drivers.
    • Grand Avenue reopens by 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 21, between Fairview and Snelling Avenues.
    • Macalester College construction continues.
      • Crews continue to work on the north side between Cambridge and Macalester streets.

    All construction activities and traffic impacts are weather and schedule permitting and subject to change.

    Grand Avenue Adjusted Schedule

    Printable Grand Avenue Adjusted Schedule flyer - August 19, 2025

    Image showing the Grand Avenue update and adjusted construction schedule August 19, 2025. Click for ADA accessible PDF.

    Grand Avenue closed from Fairview Avenue to Snelling Avenue

    • Vehicle traffic detoured using St Clair, Cleveland, Marshall, and Snelling avenues

    Grand Avenue Detour Map

    Map showing Grand Avenue closed Fairview to Snelling. Detour route on St Clair, Cleveland, Marshall and Snelling

    Local and business access

    • Directional signage will be updated for local business and pedestrian access routes between Fairview and Snelling avenues.

    • Local and business access remains open on Grand Avenue between Cleveland and Fairview avenues.

    • Wheeler, Cambridge and Macalester streets remain open across Grand Avenue. 

      • Except when work is occurring through the intersections.

    • Parking and deliveries are available using alleys and side streets. 

      • Parking remains available on Grand Avenue west of Fairview Avenue. 

      • Short-term parking is available on Wheeler, Cambridge, and Macalester streets between Summit and Lincoln avenues.

    • Printable business access map
    Map showing Grand Avenue closed between Fairview and Snelling avenues. Local business access use Summit Avenue and cross streets

    Pedestrian access during construction

    • Pedestrians should follow any posted signs along Grand Avenue as pedestrian access will change as crews work in the area.
    • When work occurs in intersections, there will always be one north/south and one east/west crossing available.

    Bus access and detour during construction

    • Route 63 bus is detoured off Grand Avenue from Cleveland Avenue to Snelling Avenue beginning April 14, 2025 until further notice.
    • See the Metro Transit Route 63 rider alert for more information and a map of the detour and temporary bus stops: https://www.metrotransit.org/route/63
    Image of Grand Avenue construction crawl card

    Support Grand Avenue Businesses during Construction with the "Construction Crawl Card"

    The City of Saint Paul, Grand Avenue Business Association, and the Macalester-Groveland Community Council are working together to support businesses along Grand Avenue during construction. Support Grand Avenue Businesses during construction with the "Construction Crawl Card."

    Grab your crew and hit the avenue — it’s time for a Construction Crawl!

    Wander your way down Grand Avenue from Fairview Avenue to Snelling Avenue, stopping into your favorite shops, restaurants, and local gems along the way. Score deals, check off your to-do list, and show some love to small businesses all in one go.

    Exclusive offers are waiting August–October 2025 — just flash your Construction Crawl Card!

    Download your Construction Crawl Card now or pick one up at a participating businesses and let the crawl begin.

    For more information and to download the Construction Crawl Card, visit grandave.com/construction

    Grand Avenue Business Support

    • Last office hours were held on Wednesday, October 15, 2025.
    • If you would like "Grand Avenue is open for business" window clings or posters, a customized business access map, or have other questions about business support, please email us at publicworksinfo@ci.stpaul.mn.us.

    Public Art on Grand Avenue

    Thanks to everyone who took the Public Art survey for Grand Avenue between Snelling Avenue and Fairview Avenue. Your survey responses will help inform the artist who will create the public art to be installed in the project area. As part of street reconstruction projects 1% of the project cost is dedicated to public art. The public art budget for the Grand Avenue project is $40,000. 

    Saint Paul’s 1% Public Art Ordinance: Quick Overview

    Saint Paul’s Public Art Ordinance arose from the aspiration and vision of civic leaders, artists and the community for a creative city at the headwaters of the Mississippi River. It arose from decades of exploration and observation as the City planned its future, as its population diversified, and as the practice of public art evolved. The Ordinance emerged in 2009 as a powerful tool that places artists at the core of civic action in shaping the form and experience of the city.

    Adopted in 2009, this ordinance mandates dedicating 1% of eligible capital project budgets toward public art, ensuring that art is built into city development from the start. Managed in collaboration with Public Art Saint Paul (PASP), the city's nonprofit art partner, artists are embedded early in planning to help shape public spaces in meaningful ways.

    Project Updates 2025

    All construction activities and traffic impacts are weather and schedule permitting and subject to change.

    Project Updates 2024

    FAQs

    Project Documents

    Note that construction information and materials are updated throughout the project. Please refer to the most recent version of maps and documents.

    Investing in Saint Paul Streets: Common Cent 

    A portion of this street reconstruction project will be paid for by a 1% local option sales tax, called Common Cent. This sales tax was approved by Saint Paul voters in November 2023. A portion of the project will also be funded through assessments to property owners adjacent to the project. The estimated assessment rate is based on a third-party special benefit analysis of the property values in the project area. Property owners will receive a notice of the estimated rate and date for a public hearing when estimated rates are available. More information on assessments can be found at www.stpaul.gov/specialassessments.

    Other Construction Projects in the Area