Edina reviews $20m pedestrian tunnel across France Avenue near Centennial Lakes

The City of Edina is evaluating a new pedestrian and bicycle crossing beneath France Avenue, a six-lane corridor that carries more than 27,000 vehicles per day. The proposed route would connect neighborhoods west of France Avenue to Centennial Lakes Park, the Edina Promenade, and other businesses on the east side, with a crossing location between West 72nd Street and Gallagher Drive. The Minnesota Star Tribune has reported an estimated cost of $20 million for the pedestrian tunnel. The project has not been approved for construction, and a funding plan has not been identified.

City Council directed staff in the summer to assess the project’s total cost and how it could align with nearby developments. City staff have issued a request for proposals to further examine these factors, with submissions to be reviewed at an upcoming City Council meeting that has not yet been scheduled. In February, the Edina Housing & Redevelopment Authority commissioned a formal feasibility study of the area and a possible pedestrian crossing, at a cost of $80,000. Currently, pedestrians and cyclists rely on sidewalks and signalized intersections to cross France Avenue.