Midtown Greenway

Background
The Midtown Greenway is a nonstop bicycle highway and walking path within a wider Greenway corridor, parallel to and north of Lake Street. When completed, the Midtown Greenway will connect the Chain of Lakes with the Mississippi River. West of Hiawatha Avenue, this corridor runs along 29th Street. East of Hiawatha Avenue, its runs along 27th Street.

Project Updates, News, and Events
Updates
Midtown Bike Center
The Freewheel Midtown Bike Depot (name subject to change) is yet again delayed. The City of Minneapolis still has not issued a request for bids for a contractor to build out the Bike Center. This is due to a higher-than-expected project cost and delays in securing the additional dollars needed for construction. The additional funds needed are now in the City’s approved 2007 budget. While it is not possible to forecast an opening date, if there are no more delays, the facility would be constructed by August 2007 and open sometime thereafter. There will be parking for 200 bicycles as well as bike sales, accessories, rentals, and repairs. This is the facility that will be in the Greenway level of the big warehouse building across from Midtown Exchange.

Greenspace and Entrance Ramp at 10th Avenue Scheduled for 2007
In 2007, Hennepin County plans to start construction on greenspace and an entrance ramp at 10th Avenue in Minneapolis. The entrance ramp will be characterized by gradually sloping greenspaces with terraces and long sight lines up out of the Greenway gorge rather than a steep embankment and retaining walls. The ramp design will be fully accessible for people in wheelchairs, the
blind, and others. There will be a long narrow plaza along the Greenway edge with seating in the curving shapes of the grain elevators that stood there. Features such as native plant gardens, public art, and recreational features for the handicapped will be added over time as resources are identified by the Midtown Greenway Coalition, Midtown Phillips, and others.

Midtown Greenway Bridge
The Sabo Bridge over Hiawatha Avenue will start construction in November 2007. The bridge will be accessible from both the north and south on both ends (with easier access from the south), and it will be lined with horizontal wire fencing with built-in lighting. There’s also an observation area on the east end. The bridge will give cyclists an unimpeded trip across Hiawatha, but they’ll now need to cross 28th Street. For a video rendering of the bridge, click here.

Events
Public Art Committee Meetings
First Monday of each month , 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Greenspace Committee Meetings
Third Monday of each month, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Outreach and Bike Center Committee Meetings
Third Tuesday of each month, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Executive Committee Meetings
Third Thursday of each month, 5:30-7:00 p.m.

Land Use and Transportation Committee Meetings
Second Monday of each month, 7:00-9:00 p.m.

All monthly meetings are free, open to the public, and held at the Midtown Greenway Coalition offices at 118 East 26th Street, Suite 100b, Minneapolis, unless noted otherwise.

Project Resources
Midtown Greenway Coalition