Northstar Construction Update - April 23, 2008

This week, work continues on the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Connection in downtown Minneapolis, the Vehicle Maintenance Facility (VMF) in Big Lake, and commuter rail stations in Big Lake, Anoka and Coon Rapids. Details on upcoming construction activities are included below.

DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS – LRT CONNECTION

• Construction crews will be pouring medians and curbs on the south half of the 5th Street North bridge over the BNSF train tracks. The south half of the bridge is being prepared for exclusive use by the Hiawatha LRT line.
• Electrical work beneath the 5th Street North bridge over the BNSF tracks will conclude this week.
• Crews will be doing rebar work on the deck of the south half of the 5th Street North bridge over I-394.
• Soil correction work at the site of the downtown commuter rail station continues.
• Pedestrian access to the southwest sidewalk corner at 5th Avenue North and 2nd Avenue North will be closed later this week. Crews will be setting up traffic control for the future removal and reconstruction of the sidewalk.

CITY OF COON RAPIDS – NORTHSTAR STATION (RIVERDALE PARK-AND-RIDE)

• Construction of a temporary parking surface immediately to the north of the Riverdale park-and-ride is scheduled to begin later this week. This additional on-site parking will help mitigate the loss of parking from construction staging and activities.
• Survey work is scheduled to begin in early May on the southwest side of the BNSF train tracks. This work is being done to prepare for construction of a maintenance access road between 119th Avenue and the area across from the Riverdale park-and-ride lot. All access road work will take place within BNSF right-of-way.

CITY OF ANOKA – NORTHSTAR STATION (JOHNSON STREET AND 4TH AVENUE)

• Site preparation and clearing and grubbing work began last week.
• Trucks will be hauling materials across 4th Avenue toward the site of the future Northstar commuter rail station. There are no anticipated significant traffic impacts related to this work, but motorists should be watchful for trucks and heavy equipment in the area.
• Crews may begin construction activities on the west end of 5th Avenue as early as this week. However, access to 5th Avenue buildings will be maintained throughout
  construction.

CITY OF BIG LAKE – NORTHSTAR STATION (HWY 10 AND COUNTY RD 43) AND VMF

• Temporary fencing has been installed at the Big Lake commuter rail station site. Work on the platform and parking area will continue this week.
• Interior piping and ductwork installation will continue in the VMF.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the Northstar Project, please contact Jonathan
Blake at 651-366-5840 or by e-mail at jonathan.blake@mnrail.org or visit Northstar online at
http://mn-getonboard.com/.

Construction Site Photos

LRT Connection

Site of the future Downtown Minneapolis/Ballpark commuter rail station (April 16, 2008)

Vehicle Maintenance Facility

Block walls being installed under the mezzanine (April 21, 2008)