Hennepin Avenue reopens

One of the city’s most dangerous streets gets improvements

Ward 7 Councilmember Katie Cashman and Ward 10 Councilmember Aisha Chughtai give each other a high five following the ribbon-cutting along Hennepin Avenue on Oct. 31, 2025. “I’m really excited to be here today, to celebrate this generational investment in this community. This project is about a decade in the making,” Chughtai said. She added, “We know more people coming to Uptown is going to breathe life into Uptown.” Cashman stated, “We are also seeing truly creative industries moving into Uptown. I am really excited for what’s to come for Uptown.”

Photo by Tesha M. Christensen

Mayor Jacob Frey cuts a ribbon on Hennepin Avenue on Oct. 31, 2025. He is joined by (from left) Public Works Director Tim Sexton, Ward 7 Councilmember Katie Cashman, Ward 10 Councilmember Aisha Chughtai, and City Operations Officer Margaret Kelliher.

Photo by Tesha M. Christense

Public Works Director Tim Sexton points out that the city made a lot of improvements under the street that are less visible but will help protect nearby lakes, reducing the total amount of solids and phosphorus by about 70%.

Photo by Tesha M. Christensen

Timothy Holtz (shown speaking) and Dan Leitner of Kowalski’s speak during the ribbon cutting to re-open Hennepin Ave. on Oct. 31.

Photo by Tesha M. Christensen

Timothy Holtz and Dan Leitner (shown speaking) of Kowalski’s speak during the ribbon cutting to re-open Hennepin Ave. on Oct. 31.

Photo by Tesha M. Christensen

Hennepin Avenue Reopens_Melody Hoffmann.mp3

Posted Friday, November 21, 2025 5:42 pm

Holidays on Hennepin

Holidays on Hennepin, a new event series, will be highlighting businesses along Hennepin Avenue after two years of road construction.

The month-long calendar of events aims to showcase the area’s “diversity of businesses,” according to local attorney Will Stancil. Events include ornament workshops, live music, and a winter market.

Stancil, along with the new Hennepin Joint Committee, came up with the idea to change the “public’s perception of Hennepin” and to remind people that Uptown is still cool, he said.

The Hennepin Joint Committee is a “non-profit, volunteer-run committee composed of Hennepin-area residents, neighborhood associations, and local businesses.”

Holidays on Hennepin starts on Black Friday, Nov. 28, and runs through New Year’s Eve. For more information visit the website holidaysonhennepin.com.

Audio

Hennepin Avenue Reopens_Melody Hoffmann.mp3

By Melody Hoffmann

Hennepin Avenue is open to drivers, public transit, bicyclists, and pedestrians after two construction seasons of road closures. A total street reconstruction of Hennepin Avenue hasn’t happened since 1957 and included above and below ground improvements.

“There will be a renaissance that takes place here,” Mayor Jacob Frey said at a ribbon cutting ceremony on Hennepin Avenue at 25th Street on Oct. 31, 2025.

Frey said visitors to Hennepin Avenue will experience calmer traffic, greener spaces, and easier street crossings.

The street redesign from 22nd Street to Lake Street includes a two-way bike lane along the east side of the road, new sidewalks, additional left turn lanes, and medians in the middle of the street.

Hennepin Avenue will also have rush-hour bus lanes, a contentious change to the plans in 2022, which originally included 24/7 bus lanes until Frey vetoed that aspect of the plan.

The traffic calming aspects of the street reconstruction will address Hennepin Avenue being one of the most dangerous streets in Minneapolis.

“We’re going to see a significant reduction of accidents happening here,” Ward 10 Council member Aisha Chughtai said at the ribbon cutting.

Underground, the City replaced lead pipe service lines and added 70 new filtration systems to protect nearby lakes, including stormwater planter boxes and a mile of new storm pipe.

“These efforts combined should reduce the amount of suspended solids and phosphorus that are entering our nearby precious lakes by about 70 percent,” Director of Public Works Tim Sexton said at the ribbon cutting.

The Metro Transit E Line will start operating along Hennepin Avenue starting Dec. 6 and a new effort, Holidays on Hennepin, will highlight events and small businesses along the corridor starting Nov. 28 through the New Year.