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MPR News Staff
St. Paul

Heads-up: Downtown Minneapolis light rail shutting down for 11 days

Train arrives in downtown Minneapolis
A train arrives at a light rail station in downtown Minneapolis.
Caroline Yang for MPR News 2014

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Updated 8:40 a.m., June 20 | Posted 3:39 p.m., June 19

Track maintenance will shut down light rail operations in downtown Minneapolis for 11 days, starting Thursday.

Buses will replace Blue and Green Line trains at the Target Field, Warehouse District/Hennepin Avenue, Nicollet Mall and Government Plaza stations, according to Metro Transit. Trains will enter and exit downtown at U.S. Bank Stadium station.

Moreover, from 11 p.m. on Thursday to 3:30 a.m. on Friday, Blue Line trains will not operate between Franklin Avenue and Target Field stations and Green Line trains will not operate between West Bank and Target Field stations.

Officials are expected to provide more details during a Tuesday press conference. On Monday, though, Metro Transit had information posted on its website already about the shutdown, using buses and other options to get around, including discounted bike availability from Nice Ride.

The transportation hassles — which will also include the closure of eastbound lanes in the Lowry Tunnel and eastbound Interstate 94 from Interstate 394 to Interstate 35W June 23 to June 26 — could make navigating downtown Minneapolis especially difficult. While the Minnesota Twins are away from Target Field during that stretch, the Twin Cities Pride Festival and Parade happens June 23-25.

Transit officials are encouraging anyone coming to downtown Minneapolis over the weekend and through the following week to stay informed and plan alternatives to the train. The downtown light rail shutdown is expected to start 6:45 p.m. Thursday through 5 a.m. on July 3.

Correction (June 20, 2017): The closure of eastbound lanes in the Lowry Tunnel will happen June 23-26. An earlier version of this story had the wrong date.