St. Germain Street To Get Updated Streetscape, Lighting

(KNSI) — A missing gap in St. Cloud’s downtown streetscape will be filled this year.

Two blocks will be rebuilt along West St. Germain Street between 10th Avenue North and 12th Avenue North and one block on 11th Avenue North from West Germain Street to First Street North. The area is in front of Bremer Bank, Falcon National Bank, PX Liquors, and U.S. Bank.

Jake Judd (KNSI News)

The reconstruction will include new sidewalks, tree plantings, and ornamental lighting that matches the rest of the downtown area and will resemble what was done along Fifth Avenue a few years ago. St. Cloud Public Services Director Tracy Hodel says the upgrades will also include some changes for bikers. “We’re also going to be changing some configurations within the lanes itself. So we will be adding and officially marking a bicycle lane on both the north and south side of the road on West St. Germain to improve the walkability and pedestrian connectivity to the downtown area.”

She says the work will cause some snarls for people downtown. “We are going to see those roadways blocked for a significant amount of time for at least four weeks while the construction is going on. It could be four weeks for each segment, depending on how the contractor wants to sequence the work.”

The project was supposed to be done in 2024. The work was moved to 2023 because of a recent water main break. The underground infrastructure in the area is over 100 years old.

Bids will go out in April, and work could start in May or June, but it could also be delayed until after the Granite City Days Parade or cause the parade to take a different route. Assessments will pay for the $2.9 million project to businesses in the area, Minnesota State Aid funding, bonding and from the city’s utility fund.

A public hearing on the work will be set for January 30th.

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