Central Corridor construction to continue in shutdown

Construction is continuing on the Central Corridor light rail project between Minneapolis and St. Paul, despite a state government shutdown.

The shutdown does mean that 19 Minnesota Department of Transportation workers in oversight roles on Central Corridor have been laid off. But Metropolitan Council Chair Sue Haigh said construction can continue for a time without them, because the council reviews the status of construction every day.

"We're just continuing to monitor it on a daily basis really to see if there would be any conditions which would require us to shut down," Haigh said. "As of today I would say 'no,' but it certainly is something we're going to be looking at closely and paying attention to as the days proceed."

Heavy construction continues at light rail sites in downtown St. Paul, on University Avenue and near the University of Minnesota.