📋 Tender Overview
Summary:
Reconstruct Lowry Avenue NE (CSAH 153) from Marshall Street NE (CSAH 23) to Washington Street NE in the City of Minneapolis.
Purpose & Description:
The existing roadway (last reconstructed in 1962) is nearing the end of its useful life and warrants replacement. Routine maintenance activities (such as overlays and crackseals) are no longer cost effective in preserving assets. The roadway was originally constructed as concrete pavement that has since received bituminous overlays on its concrete surface. These conditions are undersirable as they result in premature cracking in the pavement surface at pre-existing joints; creating an unpleasurable experience for people biking, rolling, and driving. Also, the sidewalk facilities are located immediately adjacent to the roadway, include various obstructions within the walking route (such as fire hydrants, utility poles, and signs), and include many pedestrian ramps that do not meet current ADA design standards.
These sidewalk characteristics result in poor accommodations for people walking, especially those with limited mobility. Furthermore, there is an existing Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railroad bridge that extends over Lowry Avenue NE (CSAH 153) near 7th Street NE. The bridge structure presents a constrained environment as it only provides enough space underneath for one vehicle lane in each direction, resulting in an undesirable convergence of vehicle lanes. Housing and Economic Development completed the Lowry Avenue NE Framework Plan in 2015 that identified corridor needs in terms of mobility and development potential. Two main themes ensued from the study. First, the need to create a more pedestrian friendly environment; and second, to make improvements at the University Avenue NE (TH 47) and Central Avenue NE (TH 65) intersections.
The proposed project will include new pavement, curb, storm water utilities, sidewalk, ADA accommodations, and traffic signals. It is anticipated that a boulevard area will be constructed to accomplish the following: provide space for streetscaping elements, separate people walking from people driving, and provide adequate space for signs and snow storage. Staff is currently analyzing various roadway configurations to determine the recommended environment to accommodate the competing needs for space. Additionally, this project would include improvements to the University Avenue (TH 47) intersection, which was identified as a priority from the Lowry Avenue NE Framework Plan. This project is Phase 2 (or 2) of capital improvements recommended for the Lowry Avenue NE corridor and is related to Capital Project 2140900.
Federal funding was awarded for this project in 2020 through the Regional Solicitation.
Scheduling Milestones (major phases only):
Activity Anticipated Timeframe
Planning 2014 - 2021
Design Q1 2022 - 2024
Bid Advertisement Q1 2025
Construction Q2 2025 - Q4 2026
Completion Q2 2027
