Grand Avenue Reconstruction

• Saint Paul Regional Water Service completed water valve work at the Fairview Avenue intersection this week. 
• Investigative trenching and potholing is scheduled for next week. 
  • This will involve excavations in specific locations to confirm underground infrastructure and utilities and assist in finalizing construction plans. 
  • There will be investigative work on the block between Macalester Street and Snelling Avenue and possibly in other locations, likely near intersections.

• Tree removals are scheduled to occur between Cambridge Street and Snelling Avenue starting the week of November 25

  • Forestry staff worked with the project staff to identify and mark trees for removal between Cambridge Street and Snelling Avenue.

  • Trees are removed for various reasons, including their current health and expected lifespan, location in relation to buried utilities, and anticipated impact from nearby construction to their roots.

• Sanitary sewer work will not occur this year due to the contractor's need to close Grand Avenue to complete this work. This work will be done next year during the road reconstruction.

• All construction work is weather permitting and subject to contractor availability.

• Traffic impacts:

  • Grand Avenue should remain open to traffic throughout the 2024 work and the winter.

  • Lane shifts and parking restrictions will may be in place during investigative potholing and tree removal.

  • Two-way traffic will be maintained with traffic control.

  • Please follow all posted signs, including No Parking signs.

• The contractor is scheduling their construction work on Grand Avenue in 2024. A start date has not yet been determined.

• All construction work is weather permitting and subject to contractor availability.

• Tree removals:

  • Forestry staff worked with the project staff to identify and mark trees for removal between Cambridge Street and Snelling Avenue.

  • Trees are removed for various reasons including, their current health and expected lifespan, location in relation to buried utilities, and anticipated impact from nearby construction to their roots.

  • Tree removals are scheduled to occur between Cambridge Street and Snelling Avenue in November.

• Sanitary sewer work:

  • Sanitary sewer work is anticipated to include:

    •  Rebuilding utility street access points (manholes)

    •  Private sanitary sewer service lines and connections in the right of way (from sewer main to property line)

  • Sanitary sewer work will likely occur throughout the Grand Avenue corridor, except between Macalester Street and Snelling Avenue.

  • Properties impacted by sanitary sewer service work will be notified by the contractor. The contractor will work directly with property owners to discuss sanitary sewer impacts and schedules.

  • Sanitary sewer service work typically takes half a day to a day to do. While the contractor is working on the sanitary sewer service for the property, people will not be able to flush toilets or use sink drains. 

  • Sanitary sewer work will include digging holes in the boulevard, curb, and parking lanes. These holes will be patched with asphalt.

  • Any sanitary sewer work not completed this year, will be done in 2025.

• Investigative trenching and potholing, in the right of way, will involve excavations in specific locations to confirm underground infrastructure and utilities and assist in finalizing construction plans. There will be investigative work on the block between Macalester Street and Snelling Avenue and possibly in other locations.

• Water valve work may occur at the Fairview Avenue intersection in November, pending coordination with MnDOT on their Snelling Avenue construction and weather permitting.

• Traffic impacts:

  • Grand Avenue should remain open to traffic throughout the 2024 work.

  • Lane shifts and parking restrictions will likely be in place.

  • Two-way traffic will be maintained with traffic control.

  • Please follow all posted signs, including No Parking signs.

• Grand Avenue will be open to traffic throughout the winter once the 2024 construction is completed.

MnDOT work on Snelling Avenue is ongoing and scheduled to be completed this year.

• Forest Lake Contracting, Inc. has been selected as the contractor for the Grand Avenue reconstruction project.
• The contractor is tentatively scheduled to start work the week of October 21, schedule and weather permitting.
• Construction anticipated to occur in 2024 includes sanitary sewer work, investigative trenching and potholing, and tree removals between Cambridge Street and Snelling Avenue. Water valve work may also occur at the Fairview Avenue intersection. 
• Sanitary sewer work:
  • Sanitary sewer work is anticipated to include rebuilding utility access points (manholes) and private sanitary sewer service lines and connections.
  • Sanitary sewer work will likely occur throughout the Grand Avenue corridor, except between Macalester Street and Snelling Avenue.
  • Properties impacted by sanitary sewer service work will be notified by the contractor. The contractor will work directly with property owners to discuss sanitary sewer impacts and schedules.
  • Sanitary sewer service work typically takes half a day to a day to do. There will be temporary impacts to sanitary sewer usage at the property.
  • Sanitary sewer work will include digging holes in the boulevard, curb, and parking lanes. These holes will be patched with asphalt.
• Investigative trenching and potholing will involve excavations in specific locations to confirm underground infrastructure and utilities and assist in finalizing construction plans. There will be investigative work on the block between Macalester Street and Snelling Avenue and possibly in other locations.
• Tree removals are scheduled to occur between Cambridge Street and Snelling Avenue in November.
• Water valve work may occur at the Fairview Avenue intersection in November, pending coordination with MnDOT on their Snelling Avenue construction and weather permitting.
• Traffic impacts:
  • Grand Avenue should remain open to traffic throughout the 2024 work.
  • Lane restrictions and parking restrictions will be in place.
  • Please follow all posted signs, including No Parking signs.
• Grand Avenue will be open to traffic throughout the winter once the 2024 construction is completed.

MnDOT work on Snelling Avenue is ongoing and scheduled to be completed this year.

• Yes, vehicle traffic will be able to make all turns at Cambridge Street and Grand Avenue. 
• Eastbound Grand Avenue vehicles will turn left and right on to Cambridge Street from the drive lane. There is no designated left turn lane to Cambridge Street. The pedestrian refuge median will not impact left turns.
• Westbound Grand Avenue vehicles will turn left on to Cambridge Street from a designated left turn lane.
• Vehicles on Cambridge Street will turn left on to Grand Avenue from the drive lane.

Thru traffic on Grand Avenue between Fairview Avenue and Snelling Avenue will be closed for two years during construction. Local access to businesses and properties will be maintained. Construction activities will be suspended, and the street reopened to vehicles and pedestrians during the winter 2024-2025.

During Phase 1 in 2024 vehicle access will be primarily from Snelling Avenue (the east). During Phase 2 in 2025 vehicle access will be primarily from Fairview Avenue (the west). Alley access will be maintained. 

There will be no parking signs posted on Grand Avenue in the construction areas.

• The goal is to maintain front door access to businesses and residential properties to the extent possible.
• Sidewalk access in front of businesses and residential properties will be maintained as long as possible.
• The project will coordinate access and restrictions to access with businesses and property owners.
• When new sidewalk is poured, there will be a time when access is limited.

• Street reconstruction project funded by:
  • New 1% city sales tax
  • Municipal State Aid
  • Assessments to abutting property owners
• Estimated assessment project rate has not yet been determined and will be determined through a special benefit analysis before the project starts
• Property owners will receive a letter with the estimated assessment rate and notice of a public hearing before the project starts
• Property owners are assessed after the construction project is complete
• View information about and pay assessments at www.stpaul.gov/assessments

Grand Avenue Overall Design Concept:

Grand Avenue Recommended Layout

Right of Way usage:

• Curb-to-curb width narrowed from 55 feet to 48 feet (7-foot roadway width reduction)
  • Left turn lane remains at 10 feet
  • Travel lanes narrowed from 13 feet to 11 feet
  • Parking lanes narrowed from 10 feet to 8 feet
• Total non-vehicle space widened from 24 feet to 32 feet
  • Sidewalks remain at 6 feet in residential areas, 8 feet in commercial areas
  • Boulevards widened from 6 feet to 10 feet in residential areas, 8 feet in commercial areas
  • In commercial areas with paved boulevard space, sidewalk space widened from 12 feet to 16 feet

Intersections:

At unsignalized intersections:

• Bumpouts installed at each non-signalized intersection narrowing crossing distance from 55 feet to 36 feet.

At Fairview Avenue:

• Bumpouts are proposed to be installed at each intersection quadrant, narrowing crossing distance to 36 feet.

At Cambridge Street: 

• The intersection will feature different improvements in order to facilitate safe crossing for students of the adjacent Hidden River Jr High.

• West leg of Grand Avenue:
  • Sidewalk: 8 feet
  • Boulevard: 8 feet (paved on the south side, landscaped on the north side)
  • Sidewalk extension: 6 feet (on the south side)
  • Through-lanes: 11 feet (westbound) / 13 feet (eastbound)
  • Parking lane: 8 feet (westbound)
  • Center median island: 10 feet
• East leg of Grand Avenue:
  • Sidewalk: 8 feet
  • Boulevard: 8 feet (paved on both sides)
  • Sidewalk extension: 6 feet (on both sides)
  • Through-lanes: 13 feet
  • Center left turn lane: 10 feet

Between Macalester Street and Snelling Avenue:

• The block segment will feature a unique layout which will be carried forward from a previous project done in coordination with Macalester College and Public Works in 2008. This project constructed the center median and established the current layout. The reconstruction will narrow the street width to be in line with the other segments of Grand Avenue but will maintain the existing layout between the crossing points. Rendering of the raised crossings.
• Grand Ave block segment between the east and west mid-block crossings:
  • Sidewalk width: 8 feet
  • Boulevard width: 14 feet
  • Roadway width: 36 feet
    • Through-lanes: 14 feet
    • Center median: 8 feet
• Mid-block crossings through this section will be consolidated down to two from the existing three points. These crossings will be improved to legal crossings with signage, marking and be raised in order to maximize accessibility and traffic calming through the college campus.

For additional details and explanation on design rationale, please find further reading below under technical data & design.

• Construction Phases Map
• Project Map
• Existing Conditions Overview
• Crash Location Map
• Grand Avenue Existing and Future Land Use

• Public Hearing Notice - Estimated assessment rate letter to property owners - May 2024
• One-page Project Flyer - May 2024
• One-page Project Summary - March 2024
• Letter to residents - March 2024

• PowerPoint slides from March 21, 2024 meeting
• Video presentation with PowerPoint slides from March 21, 2024 meeting

• Grand Avenue Layout Design Examples and Cross Sections Poster
• Open House 3 Presentation
• Open House 3 Video Recording - February 1, 2023
• Grand Avenue Full Engagement Summary Phase 2 Update
• Transportation Committee Preferred Concept Review Presentation
• Open House 2 Presentation
• Open House 2 Video Recording - September 28, 2022
• Grand Avenue Phase 1 Engagement Summary and Existing Conditions Report
• View comments received during Phase 1 engagement on the interactive map
• Open House Presentation
• Virtual Open House Video Recording - June 1, 2022
• Project Fact Sheet
• Macalester-Groveland District Council Meeting Presentation

Grand Avenue Fairview Avenue to Snelling Avenue Recommended Layout 

Complete Streets Checklist

Phase 2 Engagement Report

Project Design Rationale

Raised Crossing Project Memo

Pedestrian Crossing Counts

Parking Study Summary