Construction on the 66th Street and Portland Avenue Roundabout has begun for 2009.

April 20th Update

Construction has resumed to complete some remaining items not completed before the project shut down for the winter.  The Roundabout will be reduced to one lane to complete the stamped colored concrete in the splitter islands and replacement of cracked concrete in the center circle.  Bus shelters, irrigation and landscaping are also being completed.  The contractor hopes to complete the project in about two weeks.

December 15th Update

The Roundabout opened both lanes on Friday, December 5th and bus traffic has returned to 66th Street.  Some minor work remains on the signs, lights and underground wiring, otherwise major work is on hold until next spring.  The changeable message signs are back in service after being brought in for charging of the batteries last week for the first time since being put into service.  Since they are battery powered and depend on solar panels to charge while out in the field, the shorter days and colder weather finally caught up with them, not to mention the snow that collects on the solar panels. 

November 25th Update

The goal of opening the two lane roundabout has been changed to Friday, December 5th.  The delay is necessary to allow completion of the street lights and traffic control signs required by the County before the roundabout can safely open.  About half of the street lights are currently installed as of today and sign installation will begin on Wednesday.  Good news is that all the sidewalks were completed on Monday, although insulation blankets will remain until Friday while the concrete cures.  Special thanks to Ron Kassa Construction for completing all the concrete sidewalks needed to open the roundabout.

The intersection was featured on KARE 11 on Monday's        5 pm News, see the video at:

http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=530333

November 21st Update

Despite some rain and colder than average weather, concrete work is almost complete.  Two of the four legs are 100% complete, all that remains is a small section of sidewalk at the remaining two "corners" on the west side.  Street lights are going in and are nearly half done.  Signs are scheduled for next Tuesday.  Hennepin County has asked that all traffic control signs and street lights be installed before the roundabout fully opens both lanes.  The goal is to open the two lane roundabout on Wednesday, November 26th.  Once the two lane roundabout is open buses will return to 66th Street.  Additional work and landscaping will be completed next spring.

November 7th Update

A lot of activity has been taking place as the contractor works to have the project fully open by mid November.  Last weekend's road closure allowed for the final paving on Portland Avenue and 66th Street to be completed and striped.  Sidewalks have been going in on parts the north, south and east legs of the project.  The City suggested the contractor hire an additional concrete subcontractor to speed up completion of the remaining work, which has been done.  Next week, sidewalks around outer legs of the project will be completed while electrical, grading, and curb work is completed at the "corners" of the roundabout to prepare for the remaining sidewalks.  The weather looks good next week to continue concrete work.  The goal is to have all concrete sidewalks poured and street lights installed to open all lanes by the second to third week in November.  Buses should be able to return to 66th Street at that time.

CONSTRUCTION ALERT - Project area to be closed to traffic for paving and lane striping November 1st & 2nd

(click here for detour map)

October 24th Update

Most of the curb work on the outside lanes of the project have been completed.  Paving of the first two layers of asphalt have been completed.  Next week work will begin on the splitter islands and sidewalk.  Installation of street light bases continues.  Plans are to pave the final layer of asphalt on Saturday and Sunday, November 1st and 2nd.  The construction zone will be closed to traffic at this time.  Detours will be posted and additional changeable message signs will be used to inform drivers.  Access to local business and residents in the construction zone will be provided but may be limited at times.

October 10th Update

Last week permanent paving was done in the inner circle of the roundabout and traffic was shifted onto the newly paved circle. Traffic was shifted to allow underground utility work to continue where the cars where previously traveling before the switch.

This week curbs were installed on the west side of Portland and the south side of 66th Street, watermain was also installed. Final grading will can now take place where curb work is complete in preparation for paving.

September 24th Update

The center curb for the roundabout, and the surmountable curb for the truck apron was installed last week.  The colored concrete for the truck apron is going in today, it is stamped with a pattern to resemble stone.  While vehicles are not supposed to drive in the colored concrete truck apron, it is designed for for large trucks and trailers to drive over while turning. The color and stone texture is for aesthetic reasons, as well as to provide surface that discourages pedestrians while remaining drivable.  Throughout the roundabout intersection, colored, stamped concrete is used where pedestrians are not supposed to walk, and standard concrete where pedestrians are supposed to walk. 

Later this week, the roundabout will have the first layer of permanent paving completed in the inner half of the roundabout.  Traffic will be switching to the new pavement next week to allow work to be completed in the outer half of the roundabout. 

September 10th Update

The partial lane closure last week went well, and a lot of work was accomplished during the closure that could not have been done under traffic.  With most of the underground work nearing completion, a lot of progress will be seen above ground in the coming weeks.  The center curbs for the new roundabout will be poured as soon as the end of this week.  The stamped concrete truck apron will be poured next week.  Grading, curb work and paving will be done in the coming weeks, watch for lane shifts taking place to allow the work to be completed.

August 29th Update

Lane changes will still continue to take place for underground utility work. A partial intersection closure will take place Friday September 5th at 7pm and will reopen on Saturday September 6th to complete the underground storm sewer connection at the intersection. Traffic traveling east will be detoured at Nicollet to 70th Street.

August 20th Update

Lane changes continue to take place for pavement removal and underground utility work.  Storm sewer is being installed in 66th Street west of Portland.  The old southbound pavement is being removed from Portland Avenue south of 66th Street.  Buses have been detoured to Elliot Avenue for pavement removal and utility work at Park Avenue.

August 13th Update

Lane changes will be taking place to allow for removal of the old pavement  and completion of underground utility work.  Oakland Avenue is temporally closed at 66th Street during pavement removal.  The bus detour on Park Avenue from 66th to 67th Street will be moved to Elliot Avenue to allow pavement removal and work to take place at Park Avenue and 66th Street.   The detour is set to begin Monday, August 13th to coincide with pavement removal. This detour is expected to last three to four weeks.

July 29th Update

The changeover to the temporary one lane roundabout took place last Friday.  Despite the rain, everything went well.  Concrete barriers and lane striping were added to improve traffic flow.  Changeable message signs were moved closer to the intersection and messages were changed to inform drivers.  The one lane roundabout is working well, but we will continue to monitor and make adjustments as necessary.  The dirt stockpiles should be removed this week and traffic will be switched to the newly paved lanes.  Removal of old pavement will take place and underground work started once traffic has switched.  The bus detour will remain on 67th Street until construction activities allow for the safe relocation of the bus stops on 66th Street.

July 22nd Update

UPDATE - Plans for the changeover to the temporary one lane roundabout have been moved up to Friday, July 26th, after the morning rush hour.  The changeover should be completed and open to traffic in time for the evening rush hour.  There will be no closure of the intersection, it will remain open during the change, but there may be short term delays during the day.  The signal will be disconnected and removed at this time.  Changeable message signs are in place and will be used to inform drivers to stop for traffic in the Roundabout.

Starting Wednesday, July 23rd, permanent and temporary paving will be taking place in preparation for the traffic changeover.  Paving should be complete by Thursday.

July 15th Update

A lot of changes will take place in the coming week.  Paving of the east side of Portland Avenue and the north side of 66th Street will take place next week.  Current plans are to have the signal disconnected early morning Saturday, July 27th when the intersection will change over to the temporary 1 lane roundabout.  A short term closure of the intersection is planned for 5-7am Saturday, July 27th.  Plans are dependant on weather and subject to change, please refer to this website for the latest updates.

July 8th Update

Temporary fencing for the 4th of July celebration was removed, everything went well on the 4th.  Removal of the remaining portion of NB Portland is taking place.  Curb and gutter is going in on the south side of 66th Street and the east side of Portland Avenue.  Street light bases are going in on portions of the project.

July 1st Update

The bus route change took place on June 27th.  Subcut excavation and filling with select granular and class 5 is taking place on the south leg of northbound Portland Avenue and the west leg of westbound 66th Street . Site clean up and temporary fencing is going in for the 4th of July.  Curb and gutter is scheduled for next week for portions of the NE corner of the project.  Most of the power poles have now been removed and the utilities have been buried underground.

June 24th Update

Due to traffic congestion from buses entering and exiting the construction site at 66th Street and 5th Avenue, Metro Transit Buses will be rerouted from 66th to 67th Street between Nicollet and Park Avenue.  This change is scheduled to take place on Friday, June 27th after the morning rush hour.  We will continue to work to get all Metro Transit Buses back onto 66th Street when construction activities allow for the safe relocation of the bus stops. 

At this time, the changeover from the signalized intersection to the temporary single lane roundabout is anticipated to take place around the end of July.  Work done by the City’s contractor continues to be delayed due to relocation of private utilities.  The City and contractor are working to create a safe construction site for the 4th of July Celebration.