West Side Signal Improvements

Work on the West Side Signal Improvements project is largely complete.

Work Recently Completed:

• Traffic signal installation, including the installation of audible pedestrian push buttons, at the intersection of Cesar Chavez Street, State Street, and George Street.
• New signs and crosswalk markings have been installed at the intersection of Cesar Chavez Street, State Street, and George Street have been installed.
• Fiber optic cable installation and splicing is complete.
• Sidewalk restoration has been completed throughout the project.

Upcoming Work:

• General project clean-up.
• Correction of identified project punch-list items.
• Testing of installed equipment.
• Final project inspection.

Work Recently Completed:

• The new traffic signal at the intersection of Cesar Chavez Street, State Street, and George Street was put into operation.

Upcoming Work:

• Work related to the traffic signal construction at the intersection of Cesar Chavez Street, State Street, and George Street is nearing completion. The remaining work is expected to be completed this week:
  • Removal of temporary signal equipment.
  • Installation of audible pedestrian push buttons.
  • Final installation of new signs and pavement markings.
  • Placement of remaining sidewalk panels.
• Boring along Smith Avenue between Goodrich Avenue and West 7^th Street is ongoing.
• The installation of fiber optic cable throughout the project area is expected to begin this week.

Work recently completed

Underground traffic signal work and sidewalk replacement has largely been completed on the corners west of State Street at the intersection of Cesar Chavez Street, State Street, and George Street.

Upcoming work

• Work is ongoing at the Cesar Chavez, State and George intersection. Lane closures on Cesar Chavez Street are ongoing.
  • The week of May 20, underground signal work will take place on the north east corner. Northbound State between Cesar Chavez and Robie Street will be closed during this work.
  • Work on the south east corner is expected to begin the week of May 27. Northbound State between Cesar Chavez and Stevens Street will be closed during this work.
• The installation of fiber optic cable is expected to begin.
• Boring along Smith Avenue between Goodrich Avenue and West 7th Street is expected to resume in the next few weeks.

Work Recently Completed:

• Conduit installations along Cesar Chavez Street and Plato Boulevard for fiber optic interconnect have been completed.
• Flashing yellow arrow indications have been installed at the intersection of Robert Street and Cesar Chavez Street.
• Traffic cameras have been installed at several signalized intersections.

Upcoming work:

• The reconstruction of the traffic signal is expected to begin at the intersection of Cesar Chavez Street, State Street and George Street on Monday, May 6. 
  • Lane closures on Cesar Chavez Street will begin on May 6.
  • Road closures the week of May 6:
    • Westbound George Street between Robert Street and State Street will be closed.
    • Southbound State Street between Cesar Chavez Street and Robie Street will be closed.
  • Road closures the week of May 13:
    • Eastbound George Street will be closed between Robert Street and State Street.
    • Southbound State Street between Cesar Chavez Street and Stevens Street.
• The installation of fiber optic cable will begin within the next few weeks.

• Reconstruction work is expected to begin in May.
• A temporary traffic signal will be installed as the old signal is removed. 
• Westbound George Street between Robert Street and Street will be closed for approximately 4 days starting May 6.
• Eastbound George Street is expected to remain open.
• Properties along George Street from State Street to Robert Street will only be accessible from the intersection of George Street and the service roads along Robert Street.
• There will be temporary pedestrian detours when sidewalks are closed. 
• On street parking may be temporarily restricted. Please follow all posted signs.

• Construction will resume the week of April 1, 2024.
• Conduit installation will resume along Cesar Chavez Street between Wabasha Street and George Street/State Street. 

Upcoming Work

• Crews will be working to install flashing yellow arrow signal heads at the intersection of Cesar Chavez Street and Robert Street the week of April 8, 2024.
• Traffic cameras will be installed in the project area over the next few weeks.
• Preparations for the reconstruction of the traffic signal at Cesar Chavez Street, State Street, and George Street will take place in late April. 
• Reconstruction work is expected to begin May 6. 
  • A temporary traffic signal will be installed as the old signal is removed. 
  • Access to westbound George Street from the intersection will be closed for several days as removal and curb placement in the island between George Street and Cesar Chavez Street takes place. 

Work Recently Completed:
Conduits have been installed along Wabasha Street between Plato Boulevard and 300’ north of Cesar Chavez Street, and along Cesar Chavez Street from George Street to the SB TH 52 ramp.  In addition, fiber vaults have been installed along Plato Boulevard, Smith Avenue, Wabasha Street, and Cesar Chavez Street.

Construction has been suspended for the winter.

Upcoming Work:
Construction of a new traffic signal system at the intersection of Cesar Chavez Street, George Street, and State Street will begin in spring 2024. A temporary signal system will be installed and operational during the construction of the signal. Additional work will include:

• Installing flashing yellow arrows at the intersection of Robert Street and Cesar Chavez Street
• Installing final conduit connections along Wabasha Street, Cesar Chavez Street, Smith Avenue, and Plato Boulevard
• Installing fiber optic cable and connecting it to signals along Plato Boulevard, Cesar Chavez Street, and Smith Avenue

Work recently completed

Conduit has been installed along Plato Boulevard between Wabasha Street and West Lafayette Frontage Road, except under the railroad tracks east of Wabasha, and along Smith Avenue from George Street to Cherokee Avenue and from Cliff Street to Goodrich Avenue.

Upcoming work

Conduit will be installed across Smith Avenue at Cherokee Avenue, in the boulevard along Smith Avenue from Goodrich Avenue to West 7th Street, and Cesar Chavez Street from Ada Street to US 52. Short-term parking lane and/or bike lane closures may be needed when conduit is actively being installed.

Starting on October 26, contractors will do some pre-work in the boulevard along Smith and Plato for future wiring efforts. The work will not disrupt traffic, but there will be no parking in areas where current work is being done. This boulevard work is expected to be completed by November 17, 2023.

Work on this project will resume in spring 2024 as the weather conditions allow.

• Resident Notification Letter October 20, 2022
• Resident Notification Letter about George Street Closure April 22, 2024

• Project Map

November 17, 2022 Community Meeting Presentation Slides

The City of Saint Paul Department of Public Works will be installing fiber-optic cable along Smith Avenue, Wabasha Street/Cesar Chavez Street, and Plato Boulevard, replacing the traffic signal at the intersection of Cesar Chavez Street, State Street, and George Street, and making other traffic signal improvements on the West Side in 2023.

Work will happen on Smith Avenue between 7th Street and George Street, on Plato Boulevard between Wabasha Street and US 52, and on Wabasha Street/Cesar Chavez Street between Plato Boulevard and US 52. See the map below for the location of work. The most noticeable work will occur at the intersection of Cesar Chavez Street, State Street and George Street, where the traffic signal will be replaced.

Construction is expected to take place in late summer/fall of 2023.

• Improving safety and operations at the intersection of Cesar Chavez Street, State Street, and George Street.
  • Modifying signal operation to reduce confusion.
  • Installing audible pedestrian push buttons.
  • Improving pedestrian facilities.
  • Providing overhead traffic signal indications for all directions
• Connecting signals along Cesar Chavez Street/Concord Street, Plato Boulevard, and Smith Avenue to the City’s traffic management system, allowing for real time monitoring and adjustment.
• Modifying signal operation at Robert Street and Cesar Chavez Street to improve safety.
• Adding traffic cameras to improve monitoring and efficiency.

• Access to businesses will be maintained.
• There will be temporary lane and/or road closures during construction.
• A temporary traffic signal will be in place at Cesar Chavez, State & George.
• There will be temporary pedestrian detours when sidewalks are closed.
• On street parking may be temporarily restricted. Please follow all posted signs.

There is no cost to property owners. This project is funded through a combination of federal grant funding and the Municipal State Aid program.

Temporary construction easements on a small number of properties may be needed to accommodate the project. The City’s Real Estate representative will be in contact with any affected property owners.

For questions, contact Mike Klobucar at 651-266-6208 or mike.klobucar@ci.stpaul.mn.us, or visit our project webpage at stpaul.gov/WestSideSignals.