MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Raven Street Closes at Northdale Boulevard as Coon Rapids Replaces Aging Traffic Signals and Improves Pedestrian Accessibility

COON RAPIDS, MN (July 17, 2026) Raven Street is closed at Northdale Boulevard in Coon Rapids as Anoka County moves into the most disruptive phase of a project replacing the intersection’s aging traffic-signal system and improving accessibility for pedestrians.

The closure affects Raven Street at Northdale Boulevard, also designated Anoka County State Aid Highway 11. Residents and other motorists using Raven Street are being redirected to Hanson Boulevard while construction continues.

Northdale Boulevard remains open to traffic, according to the City of Coon Rapids. Drivers traveling through the intersection should nevertheless anticipate construction activity, altered traffic patterns and possible delays.

The work is expected to continue through the middle of August.

Signal System Has Reached the End of Its Service Life

Anoka County said the existing traffic-signal system at Northdale Boulevard and Raven Street has reached the end of its service life and must be replaced.

Planning and final design for the project took place between December 2024 and December 2025. Construction began July 7 with sidewalk removals and the installation of traffic-control measures.

Crews then moved to close Raven Street and remove the existing signal equipment.

The project is scheduled to run through August, with county officials seeking to complete the work before it conflicts with the beginning of the school year.

Replacing a traffic signal involves more than exchanging the visible red, yellow and green lights. The work can require removal and replacement of signal poles, underground electrical components, control equipment, pedestrian infrastructure and the concrete surfaces surrounding an intersection.

Officials have not announced an exact reopening date beyond the projected mid-August completion period.

Accessibility Improvements Included

The rebuilt intersection will incorporate current Americans with Disabilities Act standards and Accessible Pedestrian Signal requirements.

Accessible Pedestrian Signals provide information in formats that can assist people who are blind, have low vision or cannot rely entirely on conventional visual crossing signals. The improvements are intended to make the intersection safer and more usable for pedestrians with different mobility and sensory needs.

The surrounding pedestrian infrastructure is also being upgraded to current accessibility standards.

For people who walk or use mobility devices, a signal replacement project can address barriers that are less apparent to drivers, including how pedestrians reach the crossing, receive permission to cross and navigate the transition between sidewalks and roadways.

The accessibility work is therefore a significant component of the project rather than a secondary addition to the new traffic lights.

What Drivers and Residents Should Know

Raven Street is closed where it meets Northdale Boulevard. Residents along Raven Street should use Hanson Boulevard as the designated alternate route.

Northdale Boulevard remains open, allowing eastbound and westbound traffic to continue through the construction area. Drivers should reduce their speed, watch for workers and equipment, and follow temporary traffic-control signs.

Residents who ordinarily use Raven Street to enter or leave the surrounding neighborhood may need additional travel time during morning and evening trips.

The closure could also shift more neighborhood traffic toward Hanson Boulevard and other nearby routes until Raven Street reopens.

Because construction schedules can be affected by weather, equipment availability and conditions discovered after older infrastructure is removed, motorists should monitor city and county updates before traveling through the area.

Work Timed Around Summer and School Calendar

Anoka County scheduled construction to begin after the July Fourth period and finish before the start of the school year.

That timetable places the most significant traffic disruption during the summer, when school-related traffic is generally lower. However, it also means residents, delivery drivers and people traveling to summer programs or community activities will encounter the closure for several weeks.

The county’s current construction window runs from July through August. The city said the work should be finished by mid-August.

Once completed, the intersection will have a new traffic-signal system and updated pedestrian-accessibility features designed to serve drivers and pedestrians for years to come.

Staying Informed

Anoka County publishes weekly construction updates covering projects on county roadways during the construction season. Residents may also subscribe to county notifications.

Questions or comments about the Northdale Boulevard and Raven Street project may be directed to Brett Mickelson, Anoka County’s supervisor of construction engineering, at 763-324-3181.

The Anoka County Highway Department can be reached at 763-324-3100.

Sources

• City of Coon Rapids: Raven Street Closed at Northdale Boulevard
• Anoka County Highway Department: Northdale Boulevard at Raven Street Project

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