If you’re one of the many Columbia Heights residents who have asked to make Central Ave. safer, take heart. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has heard your plea.
They began putting up white pylons and painting red semicircles on various parts of the pavement the week of Aug. 7 as part of a short-term study to determine how to tame traffic on Central and University. In a press release, Mn-DOT said, “Hwy. 47/University Ave. and Hwy. 65/Central Ave. from Northeast Minneapolis through Columbia Heights, Hilltop, Fridley, Coon Rapids, Spring Lake Park and Blaine—are not serving these communities as they should. There are many more accidents than average on these segments of Hwy. 47 and Hwy. 65, and accidents that involve pedestrians and bicyclists are far more likely to kill or seriously injure people.”
The Central Ave. project includes curb extensions (or bump-outs or bulb-outs) to visually and physically narrow the roadway. The bump-outs create shorter crossings for pedestrians, and increase visibility for people walking and driving. Median extensions were also installed in the middle of the roadway to provide a safe area for pedestrians and bicyclists to stop while crossing the highway.
Affected intersections are
Gould Ave.: Curb extension and removal of parking spaces along the west side of southbound Central Ave., and a median extension south of Gould Ave. Traffic will no longer be permitted to turn left from westbound Gould Ave. onto southbound Hwy. 65. If you currently use that route, plan instead to travel east on Gould Ave. and turn right on Reservoir Blvd. to go south.
40th Ave.: Curb extensions on the northwest and southeast corners. Median extension on Hwy. 65 south of 40th Ave.
42nd Ave.: Curb extensions on the northeast and southwest corners. Median extension on Central north and south of 42nd Ave.
44th Ave.: Curb extensions on the northeast and southwest corners. Median extension on north of 44th Ave.
45th Ave.: Median extensions on Hwy 65. north and south of 45th Ave.
50th Ave.: Curb extensions on the northeast, southeast and southwest corners. Median extension on south of 50th Ave.
Central also has updated crosswalk markings at 49th Ave. and 50th Ave; new LED lighting or signal upgrades at 40th Ave., 44th Ave., 45th Ave., Moore Lake Dr., Osborne Rd., 85th Ave. and 89th Ave.; new stop bars at 42nd Ave., 43rd Ave. and 46th Ave.; and new flashing yellow arrows at 73rd Ave. and Osborne Rd.
Improvements have already been made along University Ave., including updated crosswalk pavement markings at 44th Ave., 49th Ave., 53rd Ave., Mississippi St. and 85th Ave.; new crosswalks at 44th Ave., 49th Ave. and 81st Ave.; new LED lighting or signal upgrades at Osborne Rd., 81st Ave. and 85th Ave.; new stop bars installed at 49th Ave.; and a new left turn flashing yellow arrow at 73rd Ave. and Osborne Rd.
Top, corners such as this one on 40th and Central have been “bumped out” to provide more protection for pedestrians crossing the street also known as Minnesota Hwy. 65. Bottom, the center median at 40th has been extended to offer protection to people who may not be able to make it all the way across Central during one light cycle. (Photos by Cynthia Sowden)
