Rice Street Reconstruction

Ramsey County, in collaboration with the City of Saint Paul, is reconstructing Rice Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and Wheelock Parkway from 2025 to 2027. Construction will take place in three phases.

• Phase One (Spring 2025-Fall 2025): Wheelock to the north side of Maryland Avenue.
• ​Phase Two (Spring 2026-Fall 2026): Maryland Avenue to Sycamore Street and Pennsylvania Avenue intersection.
• Phase Three (Spring 2027-Fall 2027): Sycamore Street to Pennsylvania Avenue.

This project is a full roadway reconstruction that will reduce the road from four lanes to three lanes with a center turn lane. The project will also add a ten-foot shared use path on the west side of Rice St. 

The project will also include ADA improvements, improved transit stations, shorter pedestrian crossings at intersections, enhanced drainage and additional snow storage, and bridge rehabilitation and reconstruction. 

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Goals

• Promote economic growth and community investment while maintaining and providing business opportunities.
• Create an inviting environment.
• Enhance pedestrian and bicyclist safety.
• Maintain and augment transit service.
• Continue to increase vehicle safety. 

Timeline​ 

• June
  • Maryland Avenue to Cook Avenue
    • Concrete work including bus pads, curb, and pedestrian ramps will begin.  
  • Cook Avenue to Atwater Street 
    • Removal and installation of underground utility work continues.   
  • Pennsylvania Avenue
    • Concrete work including bus pads, curb, and pedestrian ramps will begin.  
    • The Pennsylvania Avenue intersection is open to east-west traffic. Local traffic can turn north onto Rice Street from the Pennsylvania Avenue intersection. Access to Rice Street South of Pennsylvania Avenue remains closed.  
• July
  • Maryland Avenue to Cook Avenue 
    • Paving will begin.   
  • Cook Avenue to Atwater Street 
    • Electrical utility and signal work will begin.  
    • Grading work will begin. 
    • Curb and gutter installation begins.  
  • Pennsylvania Avenue  
    • Removal work will begin on the south side of the intersection.  
• August
  • Maryland Avenue to Cook Avenue 
    • Restoration and clean-up work will begin.  
  • Cook Avenue to Atwater Street 
    • Electrical utility and signal work will begin.  
    • Grading work will begin.  
    • Paving will take place.  
    • Sidewalk, median, and pedestrian ramp concrete work will begin. 
  • Pennsylvania Avenue 
    • Paving will begin.  
    • Restoration and clean-up work will begin.  

Traffic impacts

• Rice Street from just south of Maryland Avenue to the south side of Atwater Street is closed.  
• The Maryland Avenue intersection is open.  
• The Pennsylvania Avenue intersection remains open to east-west traffic. Local traffic can turn north onto Rice Street from Pennsylvania Avenue. Access to Rice Street south of the Pennsylvania Avenue intersection remains closed. Please continue to use Como Avenue as a detour.   
• Pedestrian access will be maintained along one side of Rice Street at all times.   
• For the most current bus detour and rider updates please visit Metro Transit Rider Alerts. 

Community engagement

Business Engagement Event

The Rice Street project team recently hosted two virtual business meetings to share information about upcoming 2026 construction activities and answer questions. Both meetings covered the same content and provided an opportunity for business owners to engage directly with the project team.

• Recorded Presentation
• Exhibit Boards

Project area

Business Resources

• Detour map flyer
• Construction schedule flyer
• Construction overview flyer – English
• Construction overview flyer – Spanish
• Construction overview flyer – Hmong
• Construction overview flyer – Somali
• Construction overview flyer - Karen
• Open during construction social media graphic
• Detour map social media graphic – Larpenteur Avenue
• Detour map social media graphic – Maryland Avenue
• Custom business access map: email [email protected]
• Request materials in another language: email [email protected]

Community Resources

• Rice Street Visioning & Reconstruction
• Community engagement
• All-Abilities Transportation Network
• Bicycle route and count map
• Pedestrian crash map
• Rice Street Cookbook 
• Saint Paul Regional Water Services - Water System Work

Contact us

Project Team
[email protected] 
651-237-2365