Minneapolis unveils 2026 construction season highlights

Today, the City of Minneapolis highlighted the work already in progress for a busy 2026 construction season with more than $323.1 million in planned infrastructure improvements that reach every corner of the city. These projects were selected using data that helps drive a balance between community infrastructure needs and financial stewardship to maximize impact and sustainability. Led by the City's Public Works department, the 37 construction projects getting underway this year represent a major investment in safer streets, more reliable utilities, and more vibrant neighborhoods.

Statistics for the 2026 construction season include:

• 19.6 miles of street resurfaced

• 4.8 miles of street reconstructed

• 3 Greenway bridges will be restored

• 1,827 lead water service lines replaced

• 17.5 miles of water main rehabilitated

" This construction season, we're putting more than $323 million to work in neighborhoods all across Minneapolis - rebuilding streets, replacing lead lines, and moving forward on projects people have been waiting on," said Mayor Jacob Frey. "While construction can be difficult, we know that the work being done today will make a big difference in how people use our streets and experience their neighborhoods."

To keep the community informed about work that is in progress, many projects offer weekly stakeholder meetings and/or regular newsletters with updates on project timelines, traffic impacts, and key milestones. You can also search for Public Works capital projects and visit the City construction and road closure maps by using the City's online construction dashboard .

As work proceeds, City planners appreciate residents' patience and encourage those traveling through construction zones to be mindful of workers, detours, and roadside hazards.

"The city is investing in important infrastructure to improve livability by making it easier to get around the city whether you're walking, rolling, riding transit, or driving, "said Public Works Director Tim Sexton. "We're making the city greener, cleaner, and more resilient. For example, adding new green features like rain gardens can help to reduce flooding and clean water before it goes into our lakes and rivers. And we're removing lead pipes to ensure the continued health of our residents."

Notable projects taking place during the 2026 construction season include:

• 10th Avenue S bridge over Midtown Greenway - The 10th Avenue S bridge was built in 1913 by the Chicago, Milwaukee, and Saint Paul Railroad to separate railroad traffic from city streets. The bridge was in poor condition and removed earlier this year. The bridge and greenway below remain open to people walking and biking. Minneapolis Public Works started rebuilding the bridge in February and expects work to be completed by December 2026.

• Nicollet Ave. Bridge over Minnehaha Creek - The bridge was built in 1923 and last repaired in 1973. The City will replace and fix all structural elements of the bridge and roadway. The bridge closed in March and will remain closed through late 2027.

• Logan Park Industrial - The City will fully redesign and reconstruct several streets in the Logan Park Industrial area of northeast Minneapolis. The project is centered around Central Avenue and the BNSF rail line - an industrial area that has changed in recent years and now includes apartments, studios, offices, and restaurants. This project will replace the old streets, sidewalks, stormwater system and other public infrastructure .
  

• 38 th and Chicago Ave (George Floyd Square) - In 2020, George Perry Floyd Jr. was murdered at 38th & Chicago, forever changing the intersection and surrounding community. In December, a "flexible open" concept design was finalized for the area now known as George Floyd Square. Starting in June, street and infrastructure improvements will begin, marking an important milestone in a project shaped by significant community engagement. The project will reconstruct about 0.5 miles of Chicago Avenue and 38th Street. This work will happen on 38th Street, from Park Avenue to 10th Avenue, and on Chicago Avenue, from 37th Street to 39th Street. Community gathering space will remain available during construction, though locations may shift.
  

• 35th Avenue North Flood Mitigation - The project to reduce flooding of streets and nearby homes by building larger underground stormwater pipes to match higher amounts of rainfall due to climate change. These new, larger pipes will collect and hold rainwater underground before slowly sending it into the storm sewer. The City is also adding green infrastructure, like rain gardens, to reduce runoff and improve water quality.

• Lead Service Line Replacement - More than 1,800 Lead Service Line Replacements (LSLRs) are anticipated to be completed in 2026. Over 1,200 of these replacements are in the Northside Green Zone. By the end of 2026, the City will have replaced all the lead service lines in the Northside Green Zone. This will complete one of the key actions in the Green Zone work plan to eliminate household environmental harms (i.e., lead paint and lead water service lines). Next year, the CIty will finish replacing all remaining lead service lines in the Southside Green Zone, which will be another significant milestone for the city.

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.

For more information, visit the City's website.