More biking, fewer intersections on the docket for Johnson, Wheelock

Looking to make Johnson and Wheelock parkways more park-like, planners behind the St. Paul Grand Round are proposing closing off many side streets that intersect the two roadways, to improve the experience of the Grand Round for pedestrians on the East Side.

The project would add bikeways and sidewalks along the roads to make up for gaps — many sections of the two East Side thoroughfares lack sidewalks, despite being called parkways.

Construction on the plan would start in spring 2016, and would mean tax assessments for property owners along the parkways.

The Grand Round is a project that aims “to develop 30 miles of parkway connecting neighborhoods across the entire city with scenic parkways and off-street bicycle and pedestrian paths,” according to the project website.

While the southern half of the Grand Round project is already in place, the northern half, including large swaths of the East Side, is yet to be completed.

The northern half goes from Burns Avenue in Dayton’s Bluff to Pelham Boulevard in the Union Park neighborhood via Johnson Parkway, Wheelock Parkway and Pelham Boulevard.

The plan also plugs into the newly developed St. Paul Bicycle Plan.

According to a project map, along Johnson Parkway, intersections would be closed at Reaney, Beech Street, Fifth Street, Fremont, Gotzian, Conway, Euclid, the east side of Wakefield, Old Hudson Road, and York.

Along Wheelock Parkway, intersections would be capped off at Wheelock Ridge Road, Nevada, Walsh, Weide and Arlington, as well as other intersections along Wheelock to the west of Interstate 35E.

As a result of these closures, there would be more contiguous sidewalk for people to walk and bike on.

“It decreases the bike-car conflict,” explains Kathleen Anglo, project manager for the St. Paul Grand Round.

Other updates proposed include adding lighting, landscaping, improving the roads’ boulevards, as well as replacement of curbs, gutters and driveway aprons.

Off-road bike trail construction would be paid for with the city’s 8-80 Vitality Fund, or other funding sources, according to the project website.

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