Hi-Lake Phase 1 Study

In 2016, the City and Hennepin County completed the Hi-Lake Phase 1 Intersection Study, a technical study to inform decisions about potential improvements to the pedestrian and bicycle environment at the Hi-Lake interchange. Phase 1 of the study documented existing conditions, key transportation issues at the intersection, and identified potential short and long-term treatments at the intersection.

Several goals emerged from the Phase I study: 

• Improve pedestrian and bicyclist comfort, safety, and security, and minimize delay at signals
• Ensure the roadway configuration supports all transit movements and facilitates efficient transit operations
• Reallocate right-of-way from vehicle lanes to sidewalk space where feasible to accommodate improved transit infrastructure, including arterial bus rapid transit stations
• Create a dedicated connection between nearby bicycle trails and the Blue Line Lake Street Station

The City shared Phase 1 of the study with community organizations in the area and at community events.

Phase 1 study materials

Hi-Lake Intersection Study
Hi-Lake Intersection Appendices

Hi-Lake Phase 2 Study

Phase 2 of the Hi-Lake Study was completed in 2019.

Phase 2 of the study focused on:

• Community engagement
• Developing a phased action plan for the implementation of the interim Tier 1 and Tier 2 improvements
• Additional technical analysis to confirm feasibility

• Refinement of the Tier 3 preferred long-term concept (Tight Diamond intersection)

Phase 2 study materials

Hi-Lake Phase 2 Final Report and Appendices

Interim treatments

In partnership with the City, Hennepin County led the implementation of several interim safety improvements in 2019.

Interim safety improvements implemented include:

• Curb extensions to shorten crossing distances for people walking, rolling or biking and encourage people driving to complete turns more slowly and more safely for all users
• Median extensions to shorten crossing distance for people walking, rolling or biking, reduce exposure to vehicle traffic and provide a place for people to wait mid-intersection if they are unable to cross the street in a single signal cycle
• High visibility crosswalk markings to better alert people driving to where people walking, rolling or biking cross Lake Street and encourage people walking, rolling or biking to use these locations when crossing Lake Street or the exit and entrance ramps to/from Hiawatha Avenue

*For more information on the near term treatments, see Hennepin County's project page.

Long-term vision: Tight Diamond intersection reconfiguration

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), in partnership with Hennepin County, the City of Minneapolis, and Metro Transit, plans to reconstruct the Hi-Lake interchange in late 2023 or 2024.  This is an exciting opportunity to implement the preferred long-term solution identified in the Phase 2 Hi-Lake Study, a Tight Diamond intersection.

The Tight Diamond design has several benefits:

• Reduces pedestrian exposure to vehicles and minimizes the number of times people walking, rolling or biking need to cross vehicle lanes
• Simplifies movements for people driving and improves sight lines between people driving and people walking, rolling or biking by removing “free-right turn lanes”
• Creates space for a westbound B Line BRT station and additional opportunities for wider sidewalks and boulevard space

 More information on the Hiawatha-Lake intersection projects and opportunities to participate can be found on Hennepin County’s project website: https://www.hennepin.us/hi-lake.