Reconstruction of U mudslide area begins

Reconstruction of the river bluff under the University of Minnesota's Fairview Medical Center campus is underway, a little over a year after a mudslide swept down the hill.

Mud, rocks and trees tumbled onto West River Parkway after weeks of heavy rains caused some roads to wash out across the Twin Cities.

Cliff Swenson, the design and project management director for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, said a series of retaining walls will be built to reinforce the hill.

"There will be some poured concrete walls, there will be some other methods that we'll use to stabilize [the slope]," Swenson said. "And then at the base of the slope, near the parkway, there will be a replacement of historic retaining wall that was there."

"We would like to have that parkway and those pathways open for use, but we've really been concerned about safety," he added.

The Board hopes to complete the project by the end of October. The overall cost, including the initial response, is expected to be about $6 million.