Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

LightNews

Brian Mitchell

@brianmitchl.com

710 followers 290 following 280 posts

Bike commuter, car-free, frontend dev, Minneapolis, MN. Board on https://streets.mn and https://javascriptmn.com. I like All-City bikes and Malört too much. Pronouns: he/him/his Website: https://brianm.me Mastodon: https://mspsocial.net/@BrianMitchL

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Brian Mitchell @brianmitchl.com · 10h

The life of a city! I’m happy to be aware of these things now ahead of time so I can document and learned about what’s going to be torn down before it happens.

Brian Mitchell @brianmitchl.com · 10h

(assuming I interpreted the document correctly, lims.minneapolismn.gov/file/2025-00...)

2025-00624 - Prioritized Bridge Replacement List

lims.minneapolismn.gov

Brian Mitchell @brianmitchl.com · 10h

I missed it from this summer, but it looks like in addition to a new Nicollet Ave bridge, the city approved new bridges at Pillsbury and 10th Aves for 2026, and Grand and 18th Aves in 2027. Lots of greenway closures coming up (but new safe bridges too) 😩

Reposted by Brian Mitchell

daviss @chaddavis.photography · 21h

More from today's initial light rail vehicle roll down the Southwest LRT route. Construction began in 2018 and Metro Transit says passengers will ride in 2027. Over the Kenilworth Channel, leaving W Lake St Station, arriving at W 21st St Station, exiting the Kenilworth tunnel.

light rail train over the Kenilworth Channel

departing W Lake Street Station

At W 21st Street Station

Exiting the tunnel

Brian Mitchell @brianmitchl.com · 15h

Demolition of the Nicollet Ave bridge over the Midtown Greenway began today.

An excavator with a concrete breaking tip, sits on top of the bridge while demolishing it at the same time

An excavator breaks up the north abundant concrete

Looking east from 1st Ave bridge, rebar and concrete drape over the Midtown Greenway as an excavator sits on top continuing to break it up

Looking west from Blaisdell Ave bridge, an excavator sits on the bridge demolishing it. Rebar and concrete drape across the greenway.

Reposted by Brian Mitchell

Chris Daniel @chrisdaniel.net · 18h

Midtown Greenway closure between 5th and Bryant has begun on schedule today, for Nicollet Ave bridge demolition. Please be careful on the detour, especially cycling westbound.

(If you can use the stairs at Stevens, it's only closed between Bryant and Stevens!)

Excavator on Nicollet Ave bridge, tearing it down

Midtown Greenway closure map

Closure at 5th Ave, looking west

Stairs at Stevens Ave, viewed from Greenway under I-35W

Reposted by Brian Mitchell

daviss @chaddavis.photography · 23h

Very first light rail vehicle through West 21st Street Station in Minneapolis!

Brian Mitchell @brianmitchl.com · 1d

Today was the final day of the Midtown Greenway being open with the old Nicollet Ave Bridge in place. The path is going to be removed and replaced with a new one at 1st Ave next year after the new Nicollet Ave bridge is almost complete. Demolition starts tomorrow.

Nicollet Ave greenway access ramp with a Road Closed sign and fencing, and a spray pained "remove ramp" marked on the ground.

Looking East, the Nicollet Ave Bridge spans over the Midtown Greenway. The access ramp towers to the left.

Reposted by Brian Mitchell

Streets.mn @streets.mn · 3d

Mark your calendars!

Tuesday, October 21st, 5:30-7pm – Happy Hour at Venn Brewing

Saturday, October 25th, 9:30am-noon – Walking Tour and Social Hour at FRGMT Coffee in St. Anthony Main

Streets.mn @streets.mn · 3d

Join the Streets.mn Board in 2026!: https://streets.mn/2025/10/12/join-the-streets-mn-board-in-2026/

Brian Mitchell @brianmitchl.com · 5d

I'm more of an electronic music fan, so I still think the Daft Punk soundtrack for Tron: Legacy is the best, but the Nine Inch Nails ones for Tron: Area was still quite good. I heard a few musical similarities at times to the Tron: Legacy main themes, which was a treat.

Brian Mitchell @brianmitchl.com · 5d

The movie builds on a lot of lore from the 1982 Tron movie, so if you have to watch one of the movies beforehand, I'd recommend that one. There are some references to Tron: Legacy of course though too.

Brian Mitchell @brianmitchl.com · 5d

Jeff Bridges had a small scene, but not quite topping the best line from Tron: Legacy: "bio-digital jazz, man." Greta Lee's character was probably my favorite. Jared Leto was fine, and fit the character pretty well, I liked him more than I expected! Evan Peters played a great character too.

Brian Mitchell @brianmitchl.com · 5d

I saw Tron: Ares this evening, it was really fun, a bit different, and took the universe to a new place. I picked up on a ton of references (helped by the fact that I watched the other movies this past weekend), but thought they explained the past for new viewers too. 8/10!

Brian Mitchell @brianmitchl.com · 5d

The Nicollet Ave Bridge over the Midtown Greenway is really on its last days now.

The entire north side bridge abutment is visible with a large dirt hole. Utilities and streetcar tracks hang over the edge of the bridge.

Brian Mitchell @brianmitchl.com · 8d

With postings that the Greenway is closed starting October 14, it seems that the Nicollet Ave bridge over the Midtown Greenway is on its last week of life. Major progress in removal of the surrounding dirt.

Looking south from Nicolette Avenue, showing bricks, railroad ties, and other rubble in a pile

Looking southwest showing the exposed western half of the north bridge abutment, with steel and wooden shoring to prevent collapse into the hole

Looking south during the exposed western half of the north bridge abutment. Some street car rail, Leys at the edge of the bridge at the lip of the hole.

The north end of the shoring, with a pile of rubble to the right, and construction equipment behind

Brian Mitchell @brianmitchl.com · 18d

I'm heading to Chicago on the Borealis today. The Empire Builder was running late so I got to see both trains at Saint Paul Union Depot at the same time! The Borealis departed first.

Looking east on the SPUD platform with the Empire Builder on the right and the Borealis on the left. People are queuing to board the Borealis.

Reposted by Brian Mitchell

Laura G Mitchell @lauragmitchell.com · 20d

I’m super grateful to folks like @mplsalex.bsky.social for advocating and taking action to push our city to do better.

Bill Lindeke @blindeke.bsky.social · 20d

I wrote about one man's quest to not have to ride in pitch black darkness through South Minneapolis. Modern day Don Quixote here, except the windmills are lampposts stripped of copper. www.minnpost.com/cityscape/20...

A bicyclist’s DIY project brings light to darkened Midtown Greenway - MinnPost

Alex Tsatoulis grew frustrated with lack of lighting along the Midtown Greenway in Minneapolis, so he grabbed some lights and a ladder.

www.minnpost.com

Brian Mitchell @brianmitchl.com · 20d

Souptown, all the way!

Brian Mitchell @brianmitchl.com · 24d

Yes, you too can bike with friends to drop off hazardous waste (sixth annual [but my first]) to the South Hennepin Recycling and Problem Waste Drop-Off Center. Next door to Nine Mile Brewing!

Selfie of Brian and co at the bike rack at Nine Mile Brewing

Reposted by Brian Mitchell

Alex @mplsalex.bsky.social · 26d

Had to ride past these three solar lights after the rain to see how they were doing. If the city gave me a grant of like a grand I bet I could do the whole stretch from W River to Minnehaha.

Reposted by Brian Mitchell

Ethan Kleinbaum @eikleinbaum.bsky.social · 27d

Terrific @blindeke.bsky.social article on Lyndale Ave. He does a great job listing the many issues with the design put forward by the county and asks the fundamental question: "What the hell happened here?"

New Lyndale Avenue reconstruction plan fails non-motorized users - MinnPost

The newly proposed design for Lyndale Avenue won’t age well, and Hennepin County should change it.

www.minnpost.com

Brian Mitchell @brianmitchl.com · 29d

It’s still a little bumpy with all of the seams between the bridge and the road, so not all without purpose!

Brian Mitchell @brianmitchl.com · Sep 13

Ope, I'll see you around another time then! 😜

Brian Mitchell @brianmitchl.com · Sep 13

I'm heading over shortly, I'll look out for you if you're still there in 20 minutes!

Brian Mitchell @brianmitchl.com · Sep 12

I’ll try to do better! I especially like to try some of the limited edition Oreos, M&M’s, and pop.