CAPTION: Eight intersections are closing with Victory Drive traffic detoured to 45th Avenue N. Photos by Randy Klauk.
Victory Memorial Drive restoration began on July 6. The Minneapolis memorial is a landscaped boulevard commemorating the fallen World War I soldiers and nurses from Hennepin County.
Victory Memorial Drive will be closed from Xerxes Avenue to Humboldt Avenue. Drivers will be rerouted onto 45th Avenue N. via a signed detour. Eight of the north to south cross streets will be closed, including Xerxes, Queen, Penn, Oliver, Morgan, Logan, James and Irving Avenues.
Workers have begun removing the bituminous roadway and curb and gutter of the cross streets. The intersections will be streetscaped with new topsoil, sod, curb and gutter and bituminous overlay, making the area more distinguishable as a parkway as the historic street grid is realigned to create expanded green space. These improvements will preserve and enhance the historic landscape character, and improve traffic flow and safety for bike and pedestrian use on the
parkway.
The public had several opportunities to see the project overview and proposed plans, most recently at a meeting at Loring School on July 15.
"Work began toward building this great historic place nearly a century ago. I'm proud to begin new investment on this great historic parkway for the coming generations, and most of all, to honor the Hennepin County veterans in whose names Victory Memorial Drive is dedicated," said Mike Opat, the task force's co-chair who also represents the Camden area.
"This historic linear memorial has been ignored for too long. I'm happy Hennepin County can help lead the way in revitalizing this unique avenue of heroes," said 2nd District Commissioner Mark Stenglein.
The Victory Memorial Drive Task Force was created by the Minnesota Legislature to preserve and improve the parkway. The project received $1 million in state bonding as part of a capital investment bill. That bonding was leveraged by $3.5 million in funding approved by the Hennepin County Board, $200,000 from the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, and $200,000 in federal grant dollars.
Also under development are a new flagpole plaza, gateway markers at Humboldt and Lowry Avenues, street lights and pathway lights, and restoration of the 568 markers for each war casualty. In addition, the state is giving $40,000 to restore trees along the historic boulevard.
The task force is made up of representatives from the Minnesota House and Senate, Hennepin County, the MPRB, the Minneapolis and Robbinsdale city councils, veteran's organizations, the Minnesota Historical Society and the public.
Victory Memorial Drive is part of the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway and is owned and maintained by the MPRB. For info about the drive visit http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=4&parkid=468. For info about the restoration project visit www.victorymemorialdrive.org.