After two years of construction, city leaders, business owners and crews take part in a ribbon cutting ceremony on Hennepin Avenue in Uptown Friday.
Are businesses excited this major thoroughfare is finally open to traffic? For the most part, yes, as WCCO took a sampling of local businesses.
"For the most part, yeah, yeah, we're going to have more business."
"It's been like a lot of work, but it's actually amazing how it turned out."
"We are super excited, yeah, very thrilled."
For other businesses we talked to, there's one major issue.
"Lots of us, especially the small businesses, we are not going to be happy because the parking is gone."
"Yes, we share the concern, business-wise, but we believe in progress."
Many, however, can offer an alternative.
"We have parking in the back we can offer," says one.
"I've noticed a lot of people just kind of take the Kowalski's parking lot and just head over here to whatever business," Claire with Vital Print Press explained. "So I don't know like the long term solution, and I am interested to see how parking will actually work on the street."
Although many are excited they feel there will be an adjustment period.
"We've been watching it since like day one, so it's crazy to see the transformation and how hard everyone's working," says Claire. "And I think it is going to help in the future, but it's - I feel like it's gonna be a rough couple of months trying to figure it out and everyone getting the new situation figured out as well."
But all in all - it's a good day to rejoice after a long two years of work.