urbanMSP

The falls never collapsed AFAIK. The apron was installed to protect it. Part of Nicollet Island collapsed due to tunneling. I didn't know about any quarrying. The interpretive signs in the area imply the lock is what destroyed Spirit Island.

Note that we don't actually have to remove the lock to restore the bridge. I could be down with the idea of turning the lock into a museum.

Didn't I read somewhere that MPRB or someone is planning to restore water to the old (sawmill?) chutes over by Water Power Park?

Something in-between:

http://www.mnopedia.org/event/st-anthon ... ber-5-1869

I'm imagining turning the lock into a restaurant, with a glass ceiling, and the waterfall happening over your head.

Or cantilevered out over the river with a glass floor?

Related, but now that the Upper locks are sealed, there is minimal economic use for the next two locks down river either. Why not return the rapids that the Mississippi naturally has?

http://www.startribune.com/how-about-a- ... 307262171/

I'm all in. I want it now. I think having the longest rapid in a major city in the world is a worthy thing. We would never submerge it today.

I like the tranquil pool and white sand beaches of the lower river now. And the fact that I'm considering joining the Mpls Rowwing Club has nothing to do with it.

They put in some sort of wall and opened both doors to let water flow through.

Related, but now that the Upper locks are sealed, there is minimal economic use for the next two locks down river either. Why not return the rapids that the Mississippi naturally has?

http://www.startribune.com/how-about-a- ... 307262171/

I'm all in. I want it now. I think having the longest rapid in a major city in the world is a worthy thing. We would never submerge it today.

I'd be for that. The loss of the hydropower would be unfortunate, but 17MW is pretty much a drop in the bucket. The person quoted is entirely full of crap when she says that's good for 30,000 homes. For comparison, 17MW is about 6 wind turbines like the one at UMore park, or 3% of the Monticello nuclear plant.

Couldn't really find a thread specifically for the Waterworks project, so I'll post it here

http://minneapolisparksmn.iqm2.com/Citi ... nline=True (check page 21)

The Waterworks plan is hopefully going to approved tonight by the MPRB.

I do not understand why the design seems to think everyone biking across the stone arch bridge is continuing west on the river road trail. The design seems to be actively blocking any connection from the bridge to the street grid of downtown east (where there are important north south bike connections on park/portland.

I really hope that gets addressed before they finalize the plans because it's dumb. Having to detour an extra two blocks west before cutting back through that underpass and fake woonerf is asinine.

As someone who bikes it every single day, the design is making the connection to the streets of downtown east much easier.

Did you see the fence and curb to keep you from cutting south where the bridge currently ends? I don't see how that's better.

Yeah I'm confused. It looks like this will make it much harder to access the bridge from DTE

Looks like we discussed it in more detail in this Minneapolis Riverfront thread. Probably a good place to move this conversation.

Regarding the bike paths, the presentations I've seen (not sure how current they are) show an opportunity for bikes to cut back shortly after crossing the bridge. The trick here is that they're trying to make a community gathering place, and having a commuter biking trail slicing through the middle of it isn't that great for any of the other users. Sort of like having Portland cut through the Commons.

EDIT: Here's a link to a presentation from late 2014 that shows the circulation around the site. See especially slides 10 and 20.

The lock observation deck reopens this summer! Tours and bathrooms come with too!

http://www.startribune.com/upper-falls- ... 379011401/

News about the First Ave amphitheater at Upper Harbor Terminal moved here: https://forum.streets.mn/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=3637

Updated renderings of 'The Falls'

http://www.vjaa.com/#/the-falls/

This is stunning. The activation of the spaces, the new portage for kayaks, in combination with the above the falls are and mill ruins, is going to make this area a total destination.

Dumb question, but where does this planned transformation stand in becoming a reality? Overall, it looks absolutely amazing to me.

Looks like they're actively updating the site! So there's even more renderings from after the time I posted. This one is probably my favorite though. Hopefully there will be actual seating in there, would be a great study space!

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/ ... rmat=1500w

(It couldn't determine dimensions)

Dumb question, but where does this planned transformation stand in becoming a reality? Overall, it looks absolutely amazing to me.

https://mplsparksfoundation.org/projects/water-works/