The Minneapolis City Council approved a redesign of Lyndale Avenue on Thursday despite vocal opposition from small business owners along the corridor. The decision moves the project forward over objections from merchants who pushed back against the plan.
According to CBS News, the vote approved the street overhaul even as business owners raised concerns about how the changes could affect their operations and customer access during and after construction.
Lyndale Avenue is a major commercial corridor running through several Minneapolis neighborhoods. Street redesigns of this type typically involve changes to lane configurations, bike infrastructure, parking, and pedestrian access, all of which can directly affect how customers reach businesses along the route.
Small business owners who opposed the redesign argued that the changes posed a risk to their livelihoods. Their pushback did not prevent the council from voting to proceed, but it drew attention to the tension that frequently arises in cities between transportation planning goals and the immediate concerns of commercial property owners and merchants who depend on street access and visibility.
The approval puts the project on a path toward implementation, with construction details and timelines expected to follow the council's vote.