Minnesota Department of Transportation

511 Travel Info

Highway 51/Snelling Avenue

St. Paul

This webpage is not updated over the weekend/overnight. For up-to-date information on traffic impacts, visit 511mn.org.

About this project

Highway 51/Snelling Avenue between Montreal Avenue and Ford Parkway and between Saint Clair Avenue and Grand Avenue in Saint Paul project area map

Snelling Ave. in St. Paul project location map.

View full-size map

Construction in two locations on Hwy 51/Snelling Ave. is scheduled during the 2024 construction season.

Crews will reconfigure Snelling Ave. between Montreal Ave. and Ford Pkwy. in St. Paul in 2024. This traffic safety project will construct a center median, reconstruct the traffic signal at Montreal Ave. and Snelling Ave., reduce traffic to one lane in each direction with dedicated left turns at the median breaks, remove parking along Snelling Ave., and construct a new 10’ multi-use trail on the east side of Snelling Ave. If you would like to receive a copy of the project layout, please contact us.

Construction crews will also resurface a half mile of Snelling Ave. between St. Clair Ave. and Grand Ave. The project includes replacing the signal system at Snelling Ave. and St. Clair Ave. and building bumpouts and ADA-compliant crossings at all intersections between St. Clair Ave. and Grand Ave.

Summary of work

Snelling Ave. between Montreal Ave. and Ford Pkwy.

Spring through summer 2024
  • Construct an 8 ft. concrete center median along Snelling Ave., with breaks for designated left turns from NB Snelling Ave. at W. Rome Ave., Saunders Ave., Beechwood Ave. and Bohland Ave. There will not be a left turn at Hillcrest Ave.
  • Construct 10 ft. multi-use trail on the east side of Snelling Ave.
  • Improve the sidewalk on the west side from a 5 ft. sidewalk to 6 ft. sidewalk, and install ADA crossings along Snelling Ave.
  • Reconstruct the traffic signal at Snelling Ave. and Montreal Ave.
  • Improve drainage

Snelling Ave. between St. Clair Ave. and Grand Ave.

Mid-July through August 2024
  • Resurface Snelling Ave. between St. Clair Ave. and Grand Ave.
  • Removal and replacement of dead/diseased trees
  • Update sidewalks and crossings to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
  • Replace traffic signal system at the intersection of Snelling Ave. and St. Clair Ave.
  • Improve drainage
  • MnDOT also is partnering with the city of St. Paul to address sanitary sewer and storm sewer preservation needs on this project. The city will pay for the cost of additional work.

Traffic impacts

All traffic impacts are tentative and weather dependent. Access to all businesses will be maintained during construction.

Upcoming

Information about upcoming traffic impacts will be posted as details become available. Motorists can expect lane closures, directional full road closures and closures of side streets while working nearby. Bus traffic will be coordinated with Metro Transit during road closures.

Road closures

Spring
  • Snelling Ave. is closed in both directions between Montreal Ave. and Ford Pkwy. Local property access will be maintained.
    • Detour: Fairview Ave.
    • Northbound truck traffic detour: St. Paul Ave./Cleveland Ave.

Lane closures

Spring
  • Snelling Ave. is reduced to one lane in both directions between Montreal Ave. and Ford Pkwy for 3-4 weeks. This closure will occur after the Snelling Ave. road closure.

Tree removal

We removed 34 trees along Snelling Ave. between St. Clair Ave. and Grand Ave. in early January 2024. Tree removal was needed because:

  • trees are diseased or in poor condition;
  • the trees’ location conflicts with construction for road improvements in summer 2024;
  • construction impacts to the tree’s root system will prevent the tree’s ability to survive long-term.

MnDOT staff respects the value that trees bring and carefully identified the location of each tree that was to be removed. When the construction work is completed later this year, we will reseed the area and in 2025 will plant new boulevard trees along Snelling Ave. to replace those removed for construction, or to replace additional trees as they die or are removed.