The City of Minneapolis is preparing for a busy 2025 construction season with more than $225 million in planned infrastructure improvements, including everything from travel time to water quality. Led by the City’s Public Works Department, the 66 capital projects getting underway this year represent a major investment in safer streets, more reliable utilities, and more vibrant neighborhoods.  

2025 Highlights include:

• 9.3 miles of street resurfaced
• 1.6 miles of street reconstructed
• 2 Greenway bridges reconstructed
• 823 lead water service lines replaced
• 16 miles of water main rehabilitated 

“This year, we are laser focused on the core infrastructure people in the city use everyday,” said Mayor Jacob Frey. “It is a daily luxury to not think about whether our water is clean enough to drink, whether the potholes will be filled on your commute or if the sidewalk is easy enough for your kid to navigate. The work done by our amazing Public Work employees will connect people in every corner of our city with safe drinking water, calmer streets and easier connections to the places we love.” 

From storm sewers and sidewalks to bridges and bikeways, these projects will strengthen the city’s foundation and improve quality of life for residents across Minneapolis. To keep the public informed, the City is also introducing a new online construction dashboard, offering real-time updates on project timelines, traffic impacts, and key milestones.

“As Chair of the Climate and Infrastructure committee, I know the importance of making long term decisions to improve connectivity, safety, public health, and accessibility in our communities. The investments we’re making are part of building a better City,” said Council Member Katie Cashman. “I encourage residents to slow down and move with caution when interacting with construction sites and to use the new Public Works construction map to understand where projects are located.” 

"From the safety of people walking and rolling to the safety of our drinking water, Public Works and our contractors take pride in their work to improve the lives of residents and visitors to our great city," said Tim Sexton, Director of Public Works. "As we kick off another summer of projects, I thank our community members and business owners for their patience and partnership as we make generational investments in our neighborhoods."   

2025 Construction Season Highlights:  

• Bridge 9 -  The Northern Pacific Railroad constructed Bridge No. 9 in 1922 to carry freight over the Mississippi River. The City of Minneapolis acquired this bridge in 1986 and converted it to a pedestrian use bridge in 1999. The bridge currently provides a Mississippi River crossing for the Dinkytown Greenway bike trail. To preserve the historic resource of the bridge, the City has chosen a repair/rehabilitation program. Construction started on April 7, closing the bridge to the public for approximately 8 months. These repairs and improvements will preserve the historic  bridge and provide a Mississippi river crossing that will last an estimated 50 years.  

• Hennepin Ave. Phase 2 - The Hennepin Ave S. Reconstruction project runs between Lake St and Douglas Ave and addresses aging infrastructure while enhancing safety and improving mobility. Phase 2 roadway construction started on March 31st, between 26th St and Douglas Ave, resulting in traffic lane closures, cross-street lane restrictions, and parking lane closures. During this time, vehicles and Metro Transit buses will be detoured to Lyndale Ave. Access to businesses and residential properties will be maintained throughout the construction period. Upgrades to the street, sidewalks, bikeway, and intersections will improve mobility in the corridor for people to walk, ride transit, bike, and drive. Utilities, traffic signals, street lighting, and stormwater infrastructure will also see modernizations.   

• First Ave - Reconstruction of 1st. Ave. S. from Lake St. to Franklin Ave. will continue through the spring. In addition to new pavement, the project will provide long-lasting infrastructure improvements including new sidewalks, an off-street bicycle facility, updated safety features, sanitary and storm main replacement, and green stormwater infrastructure. Segments of 1st Ave. S will continue to be closed as work progresses.   

• Bossen Terrace Sewer Improvements - Over a mile of sanitary and storm sewer lines in the Bossen Terrace neighborhood will be replaced to improve system flow, reduce environmental risks, and prevent backups. The project also includes upgrades to pedestrian ramps to meet ADA standards.  

• Lead Water Service Line replacement - The State of Minnesota has a goal to replace all lead service lines by 2033. 823 Lead Service Line Replacements (LSLRs) are planned to be completed in 2025. Residents in project areas may be impacted by temporary traffic lane shifts, short-term limits on street parking, and/or a brief disruption in water service to individual customers while we replace their service line. State and Federal funds are paying for this work at no cost to property owners. Rules for state funding will determine the project areas.  

The City’s Public Works department serves as the steward of the public infrastructure and provides valued City services that contribute to public safety, economic vitality and neighborhood livability in Minneapolis.