Overview
- St. Paul marked the reopening between Macalester and Wheeler with a 4–6 p.m. community event, mayoral remarks, and a 4:30 p.m. ribbon cutting, with traffic expected back by 11 p.m.
- The project is the first corridor work partly funded by the city’s 1% sales tax, covering a larger stretch from Snelling to Fairview.
- Public Works prioritized pedestrian crossing safety, updated aging utilities, improved the transit experience, emphasized placemaking near campus, and sought a better balance of travel modes.
- Businesses along the corridor reported steep summer losses during months of construction, and Roseline’s Candles closed on Aug. 31.
- Some merchants report early recovery as access returns, with Wet Paint crediting parking and clear communication for retaining customers and French Meadow noting recent improvement after a difficult summer.