Remnants of the construction left behind include workers doing the final touches on a new road and the empty building of a beloved Dairy Queen are part of the newly reopened Lowry Avenue. The road closure was formally lifted on Thursday, Oct. 24.
The improvements to Lowry were not only a newly paved road, but the addition of a sidewalk-level proteced bike path on the north side of the thoroughfare separated from the street by a boulevard. Lanes have been reduced from four to three — one going each way and a turn lane in the middle, center medians at Madison and Quincy Streets and improved crosswalks for pedestrians at Monroe and Washington Streets.
Lowry’s reconstruction started on April 15. A sign posted on Lowry and Johnson reminds everyone of that start date, while also warning of the work to come in 2025.
Construction on Lowry from Central Avenue to Johnson Street is next. The bulk of the work is set to start in March of 2025, with a road closure and detour similar to this year. Private utility companies are starting to move their lines in preparation.
An input and approval process is ongoing for Lowry Avenue from Washington Street to Marshall Street. The approval on designs is expected by the end of 2024 with construction to start in 2026.
To stay up to date with the Lowry Avenue construction, visit https://www.hennepin.us/residents/transportation/lowry-corridor. There are also links on this page to community engagement and proposed plans for the 2026 work.
A sign reminding drivers of the road closure for reconstruction on Lowry the past six months. (Davis Steen)
A new pedestrian crosswalk was installed east of the railroad bridge on Lowry and Washington. (Davis Steen)
All that remains of the Lowry Dairy Queen that was recently sold for development. (Davis Steen)
A new median at the intersection of Madison Street and Lowry Avenue. (Davis Steen)