Mpls. repaired 68 miles of streets in 2012

Minneapolis road work
This section of Nicollet Avenue between Lake Street and 36th Street was reconstructed last summer. City officials say it was the largest road construction project in the city this year. In total, they say nearly 68 miles of city streets were improved through either reconstruction or resurfacing in 2012.
MPR Photo/Brandt Williams

Nearly 68 miles of Minneapolis streets got a makeover this summer.

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak says the city's biggest road project this year was the reconstruction of Nicollet Avenue between Lake Street and 36th Street. The project involved the complete removal of the road surface plus storm sewer and sidewalk reconstruction.

Rybak stood along a section of Nicollet Avenue Tuesday, and remarked about how much better the street is now than it was before the project started.

"About a year and a half ago, I think, we did a press conference down the street and walked down a street that looked a lot like I imagine them to look like on in the middle of Mogadishu," Rybak said. "Today, we look a beautiful street and I drive down this many mornings and I really want to get out of the car and roll down it, I'm so excited."

Another section of Nicollet will be reconstructed next year. Rybak said the city was able to afford to pay for all the road work because it has continued to pay down city debt.