Arcade & E7th Mitigation and Resilience

MnDOT has a project page with ongoing updates and information: MnDOT official Project - Arcade and E7th

Arcade South of Maryland Closed 4 months early! See the news coverage we are getting to try to change this:

• Star Tribune
• WCCO Channel 4
• Pioneer Press

Since Monday March 31st the section of roadway identified by the project as Stage 2 has been closed to access at York right by Seeger Square and at Maryland. This complete closure of lanes on Arcade is killing the businesses in this stretch. There are currently no crews working. This closure was just to deter pass through traffic - but it has killed local business access traffic as well. This is very frustrating to businesses that planned for 1 month complete closures later in the project timeline - July - October. This early closure will make the impact 6 - 9 months instead of 1 month. Imagine the difference to your revenue if you expected a 1 month loss and were instead facing a 6 month loss! It will be much more difficult for businesses to survive. Businesses are asking for a change to the barricade as a commonsense solution to the situation, to repair trust, and curb loss of business:

• Open Arcade to Local Business Traffic: At the southern closure at York and Sims change the barricade to allow one lane northbound and one lane southbound. This would allow local business access but slow traffic and deter pass through traffic – which is the stated goal of MnDOT. At the northern closure at Maryland, do the same – allow one lane northbound and one lane southbound
  As much as possible strive to configure barricades and concrete barriers to allow for passable traffic in both directions for the duration of the project only fully closing the street when needed for construction. This was the position of MnDOT during the design phase and they convinced us it was doable.
• Mitigation Money: ESABA, ESNDC, Payne Phalen Community Council, Indigenous roots, Storehouse Grocers and others are worked to get a mitigation fund allocated by the legislature. Read all about that in the attached one-pager. We were a part of two hearings in the Senate and were passed along by the Transportation Committee to the Job Committee. Though Senators were sympathetic and confirm they hear requests like this from all over the state, we were not included in the budget sections to be funded. We will need another source of funding to help our businesses. Thank you to Chair Dibble, Senator Hawj and Rep Lee and all our Representatives that learned about this need and are advocating and standing with us to try to help move the barricade. Stay tuned for ways to contribute to a mitigation fund.  If you want to join the effort, contact Paris Dunning 952-994-3746 or Marsha Allen 651-288-8751

Here is the Timeline as we understand it:

Also of Note:

PPCC and Urban Roots are forming a coalition to sponsor and maintain Level 2 and Level 3 plantings by community (grasses and native perennials).  The intention is to plant in 2026 and 2027, contingence upon City of St. Paul maintenance agreement.  There are a total of twenty-seven (27) Level 2 and 3 planters on Arcade Street between Maryland and Neid.   

Here is the Hotline to call and ask questions and get help with MnDOT: 651-728-4542 • info@e7tharcade.com

Megan Ryan  is our direct contact with MnDOT for the community including businesses. Ask for her by name when you call the hotline or send email.

We also have an engagement consultant working directly with our campaign for mitigation and resilience:

Marsha Allen
Engagement Consultant with ESNDC
651-288-8751
marsha.esndc@gmail.com