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 will be in 2025
Tags

    Grand Avenue closed from Fairview Avenue to Cambridge Street

    • Grand Avenue and Fairview Avenue intersection closed until mid-June
    • Vehicle traffic detoured using St Clair, Cleveland, Marshall, and Snelling avenues

    Grand Avenue Detour Map during Fairview Intersection Closure

    Map showing detour route for Grand Avenue closure between Fairview and Cambridge. Use St Clair, Cleveland, Marshall, and Snelling.

    Local and business access

    • Local and business access remains open on Grand Avenue between Cleveland and Fairview avenues, and between Cambridge Street and Snelling Avenue.
    • 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 between Cambridge Street and Snelling Avenue.
        • Exception:  No parking is available on the south side of Grand Avenue between Cambridge and Macalester streets. Xcel is replacing their gas line in this area. Work is expected to be completed early the week of April 21.
      • Additional short-term parking has been added along Wheeler, Cambridge, and Macalester streets between Summit and Lincoln avenues.
    • Printable business access map
    Map showing business access on Summit, Wheeler, Cambridge and Macalester during Grand Avenue construction

    Pedestrian access during construction

    • One side of the sidewalk will always remain open along Grand Avenue.
    • 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
    • For eastbound Route 63
      • Eastbound buses will travel regular route on Grand Ave to Cleveland Ave, left on Cleveland, right on Summit Ave, right on Snelling Ave, left on Grand Ave, and resume regular route.
      • Get on/off the Route 63 buses at:
        • Grand Ave & Cretin Ave - Stop #3104 (eastbound)
        • Cleveland Ave & Grand Ave - Stop #18785 (northbound)
        • Temporary stop Summit Ave & Fairview Ave (eastbound)
        • Temporary stop Grand Ave just past Snelling Ave (eastbound)
        • Grand Ave & Pascal St - Stop #3116 (eastbound)
    • For westbound Route 63
      • Westbound buses will travel regular route on Grand Ave to Snelling Ave, right on Snelling, left on Summit Ave, left on Cleveland Ave, right on Grand, and resume regular route.
      • Get on/off the Route 63 buses at:
        • Grand Ave & Pascal St - Stop #3087 (westbound)
        • Temporary stop Grand Ave just before Snelling Ave (westbound)
        • Temporary stop Summit Ave & Fairview Ave (westbound)
        • Grand Ave & Cleveland Ave - Stop #56942 (westbound)
    Grand Avenue Construction Schedule

    Below is an overview of the construction schedule. More specific details about the 2025 construction staging will be provided prior to the start of construction.

    Grand Avenue reconstruction map with Section 1 from Fairview to Cambridge and Section 2 from Cambridge to Snelling
    • Construction is scheduled to begin spring 2025. Anticipated schedule, subject to change:
      • April - October 2025: Section 1 construction - Fairview Avenue to Cambridge Street, includes the Fairview Avenue and Cambridge Street intersections
      • Mid-May - August 2025: Section 2 construction - Cambridge Street to Snelling Avenue, may include the Snelling Avenue intersection in coordination with MnDOT
    • Final restoration and landscaping activities may occur in spring/summer 2026.
    • Utility work will be coordinated with the construction activities.
    • Pedestrian access and access to businesses will be maintained during construction.

    Grand Avenue Business open office hours Wednesdays 1 - 2 p.m.

    We invite businesses to join us virtually or in person on Wednesdays from 1 – 2 p.m. for open office hours. 

    This is an opportunity to hear construction updates, ask construction-related questions, and talk with project staff.

    Wednesdays
    1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

    Agenda for Grand Avenue Business Open Office Hours (printable agenda)

    • Welcome and Project Team Introductions

    • Reminder of Meeting Protocols for hybrid meeting with online and in-person participants

    • Reports

      • Construction updates for the current week

      • Construction updates for what is coming in the next week or two

      • Updates from other construction in the area

    • Facilitated Discussions to Address Questions and Concerns

      • Grand Avenue businesses

      • Other concerns on Grand Avenue  

      • Other concerns on Lincoln Avenue and surrounding area 

    Join the Virtual Meeting

    No need to download Microsoft Teams. You can join the meeting in the web browser of your choice.

    Project Updates 2025

    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