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

    Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter cuts ribbon on newly reconstructed Grand Avenue.

    Thank you for joining us at the Grand Avenue Reopening Celebration held on October 21, 2025. Our community celebration was complete with fun activities, music, and a ribbon cutting on the newly reconstructed Grand Avenue. Check out the City of Saint Paul's YouTube channel to view the reopening festivities and hear from Grand Avenue business owners.

    Grand Avenue Reopening YouTube

    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.

    Help protect the new Grand Avenue sidewalks: Salt harms new concrete

    Try sand or grit instead

    To ensure long-lasting, durable concrete, please do not use salt or ice melt on newly poured sidewalks this winter. Your participation is important to the quality and longevity of the concrete surfaces.

    Why skip the salt?

    • New concrete is weakest during its first year.
    • Salt accelerates the freeze/thaw cycle that could result in chipping or cracking of the concrete.
    • Sand or grit (sold as chicken, poultry, or cherry stone grit) is a great alternative for increasing traction on icy surfaces.

    Help care for the newly planted trees

    A young tree needs about 20 gallons of water a week. Place a hose close to the tree and run the water at a trickly for about 2 hours once a week.

    Request a FREE watering bag by calling Parks and Recreation at 651-266-6400 or completing the online watering bag request form.

    Protect young trees from damage by nearby sidewalk furniture, activities, or equipment. Trees can die from bark damage.

    Grand Avenue Schedule Moving Forward

    Grand Avenue Continued Construction Flyer - October 24, 2025

    Grand Avenue Continued Construction Informational Flyer

    Grand Avenue Business Survey

    We thank you and your business staff again for your patience, positivity, and perseverance throughout the recent construction.

    We recognize that this work brought challenges, and we’re eager to learn from your experiences. Please take this survey to share:

    • How the City of Saint Paul communicated and supported your business during construction
    • What strategies or resources were most helpful
    • What could be improved for future projects

    Your feedback will help us improve how the City of Saint Paul supports local businesses during future projects. Please complete our survey by Monday, November 24, 2025.

    Grand Avenue Business Survey

    Image of Grand Avenue construction crawl card

    Construction Crawl Card Ended October 31

    Thanks to all the businesses and shoppers that participated in the construction crawl.

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

    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