Streets under construction in 2026

Keeping track of highway and street studies, as well as state, city and county projects under construction, might have travelers going in circles.

Highway 280 reconstruction is already underway. MnDOT also provides regular construction updates statewide on its website.

City and county public works projects also are underway or will start soon. One ongoing effort is the second phase of the Wheelock-Grotto street reconstruction project, which includes streets in an area of East Como Boulevard, Grotto Street and Maryland and Arlington avenues.

The project generated controversy when a number of trees were cut down.
Another project to be mindful of is Pelham Boulevard reconstruction, between Mississippi River Boulevard and Franklin Avenue. The street reconstruction project will include a new off-street bikeway, replacing a longtime on-street cycle track with plastic bollards.

A Ramsey County project travelers should watch is along Pierce Butler Route, where 68 dead and diseased trees have been removed. The trees were impacted by Dutch elm disease and emerald ash borer, as well as drought. Plans call for planting a diverse mix of 150 climate-adapted tree species in the county right of way. The goal is to provide a healthy and strong tree canopy.

I94/Rondo Streets projects
Studies of and around Interstate 94 continue. The Rethinking I-94 project just ended a comment period on its scoping document/draft scoping decision document and a state environmental assessment worksheet. MnDOT expects to post a final scoping document decision and findings and facts and conclusions on the EAW later this year.

The project to determine the future of the freeway between the downtowns of St. Paul and Minneapolis is in its 10th year.

Area residents, business owners and travelers are also involved in the adjacent Rondo Streets project, which is in its second year. A slow roll bike ride was held earlier in May to give a riders-eye view of the project area. It was sponsored by the Cultural Wellness Center and the St. Paul Department of Public Works.

The study area is in Lexington-Hamline and Summit-University neighborhoods, bounded by University Avenue, Rice Street/John Ireland Boulevard, Selby and Hamline avenues. An online survey is open through May.

The study also involves the city’s Department of Planning and Economic Development (PED) as streets are studied in the context of current and future land uses. The study is unique in that it includes a look at technical data on economic assessments, health and racial equity data and how that could affect street design.

“This is an opportunity to rethink how we redo neighborhood streets,” said David Peterson, Public Works senior transportation planner. He and consultant Craig Vaughn said changes would be made over a period of years as streets come up for reconstruction.

One question raised by community members is if and how survey responses would actually drive future street design decisions. Peterson said that while it could be several years before streets are rebuilt, community input does affect design decisions.

Beyond the streets themselves, there have also been discussions about sidewalks and street boulevards, and how those areas could change in use to better serve the community. That’s not something street redesign projects have always included in the past.

While changes in the I-94 area through Rethinking I-94 and the reconnect Rondo land bridge will ultimately affect neighborhood street traffic, Vaughn said the Rondo Street Study is focused on neighborhood streets and how they work.

“This is a look at the entire local street network,” he said.

Community engagement over the last year informed the project and how it is moving forward, said Vaughn. A common theme heard is that people want more green space and trees, lower vehicle speeds, and safer walking and biking experiences. Another wish is for more space for community gatherings and amenities such as sidewalk cafes.

The community input in the study’s first round was used to develop draft concepts for four types of streets.

A neighborhood street is a city-owned street providing local access with short trips and focuses on pedestrian connections, safety, slower vehicle traffic and on street parking for adjacent properties. Some corridors may also be called out for future bike boulevards.
Greenway network streets are neighborhood streets that have more of a focus on active transportation, green space/infrastructure, public art and other visual features as connectors to neighborhood schools and parks.

Community connectors are city or county-owned streets that operate as collectors of shorter trips, with access to neighborhood destinations.

Gateway corridors are city or county-owned streets that operate as a physical gateway (i.e., border of the neighborhood). Such streets can also focus on providing more space for drivers, walkers, bikers and transit users to travel safely, comfortably and conveniently.
Learn more about the study and take the survey at

https://www.stpaul.gov/departments/public-works/transportation-and-transit/rondo-streets-study.