Comprehensive photo presentations of major LRT heavy construction sites during 2022 are now available for viewing courtesy of the Metro Green Line Extension Office and the Met Council. They provide more complete visual overviews than those provided by regional and community news outlets, including Eden Prairie Local News.
Video presentation: 2022 Metro Green Line Extension Construction Highlights (3 minutes, 47 seconds). Click here.
Slide presentation: Metro Green Line Extension Update. Click here.
Both the video and slideshow include photos of major work sites from SouthWest Station through to Kenilworth Tunnel and downtown Minneapolis. The video features a number of paired photos showing the construction progress of bridges and stations during 2022.
The more detailed slide presentation was reviewed by the Metro Green Line Extension Corridor Management Committee on Dec. 7. It begins with a report on investment trends along the 14.5-mile route and identifies transit-oriented development projects in housing, business and manufacturing. Metro Green Line Extension Project Director Jim Alexander’s update on heavy (civil) construction work begins on Page 14.
Legislative audit
The Office of the Legislative Auditor (O.L.A.) in St. Paul informed EPLN on Wednesday that it expects to release two program evaluation reports on SWLRT this spring. The first will be in February, and the second in April or May.
David Kirchner, evaluation coordinator at the legislative auditor’s office, wrote, “Due to legislative and public interest, we [the O.L.A.]will continue to keep a close eye on the project; it is quite possible that we will do further special review or financial audit work after the second program evaluation report.”
The first installment of the O.L.A. reports in October 2022 can be found here.
EPLN’s Dec. 9 article, Light Rail: A year in review, can be found here.
Editor note: Writer Jeff Strate served on the SWLRT Community Advisory Committee as an at-large member from February 2015 through February 2017. Jeff is also an EPLN board member.
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