More delays will keep West River Parkway closed until fall, at least

The Minneapolis park board will take longer than expected to shore up a slope that collapsed in heavy rain more than a year ago, closing part of West River Parkway. The roadway won't re-open until fall, at the earliest.

Cliff Swenson, design and construction director at the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, said the site is very steep and and the flow of groundwater at the top has slowed the construction.

Even with a longer construction season, Swenson said there's not enough time to permanently stabilize the very steep slope to allow reopening of the parkway.

"Really to do our soil nailing and stabilizing that really poor soil, that we can't complete during frozen conditions. We just can't open it cause it's just not safe enough yet for people to pass by below."

Though the slope work should be done in July, Swenson said, West River Parkway will remain closed until fall. Hennepin County is working on the Franklin Avenue bridge through the summer and will need to keep the parkway closed.

The collapsed side of the Mississippi River gorge is just below the University of Minnesota Medical Center, but there's no danger to the center.