METRO Green Line Extension (Southwest LRT)

Photography of the construction of Minnesota's largest infrastructure project.

The METRO Green Line Extension, also known as the Southwest LRT, is a major light rail project in Minneapolis and its western suburbs. Construction began in 2018 to extend Green Line service westward, with passenger operations planned for 2027. This photo set documents clearance and systems testing across key segments, including the Kenilworth Tunnel and Kenilworth Channel bridge, and stations such as West Lake Street, West 21st Street, Southwest Station, and Bassett Creek Valley.

The extension is intended to connect communities and provide efficient public transportation in the region. Clearance tests confirm train envelopes, platform spacing, and structure interfaces before public service, reflecting the integration of new Siemens S700 light rail vehicles. Engineering features like the tunnel and channel crossing allow the line to traverse constrained corridors while meeting safety and reliability requirements.

Southwest Station functions as a transit hub along the corridor, while stations at West Lake Street, West 21st Street, and Bassett Creek Valley serve nearby neighborhoods and transfer points. Night construction and station finishing progressed alongside test runs in late 2025, preparing the line for passenger service targeted for 2027. The extension is designed to integrate with Metro Transit’s existing network to expand rail access in the Minneapolis area.

Paved path along Cedar Lake Trail near Bryn Mawr Station during morning fog in Minneapolis. — *September 28, 2026* — A morning of heavy fog on the Cedar Lake Trail near the Bryn Mawr Station of the new Green Line Extension.:

Metro Transit promotional items including green lanyard, glasses, and medal from Green Line Extension opening announcement event. — *September 26, 2026* — Items handed out at the Metro Transit Green Line Extension opening date event at Louisiana Station. Metro Transit says the new train line will open June 12, 2027.

Cyclist with bicycle rides past Metro Transit blue test train near Louisiana Avenue station during Green Line Extension testing. — *September 26, 2026* — Biker goes through the Cedar Lake Trail tunnel at Louisiana Station as Metro Transit announces June 12, 2027 as opening date for the Green Line Extension.

Passengers and onlookers gather at Louisiana Station platform beside a Metro Transit light rail vehicle during Green Line — *September 26, 2026* — People check out new Metro Green Line Extension trains at Louisiana Station where Metro Transit announced June 12, 2027 as it's opening date.

St. Louis Park Mayor Nadia Mohamed speaks at podium announcing Metro Transit Green Line Extension opening date. — *September 26, 2026* — St. Louis Park Mayor Nadia Mohamed speaks at an event announcing the opening date of the new Metro Transit Green Line Extension light rail line. Metro Transit held the event at the new Louisiana Avenue Station in St Louis Park and says the new line will be running on June 12, 2027.

Hennepin County Commissioner Marion Greene speaks at Louisiana Avenue Station during Metro Transit Green Line Extension opening — *September 26, 2026* — Hennepin County Commissioner Marion Greene speaks at an event announcing the opening date of the new Metro Transit Green Line Extension light rail line. Metro Transit held the event at the new Louisiana Avenue Station in St Louis Park and says the new line will be running on June 12, 2027.

Person wearing white sweatshirt with yellow Metro Transit Green Line Extension graphic promoting transit expansion. — *September 26, 2026* — A Metro Transit Is Moving Forward sweatshirt at the Metro Transit event announcing the opening date of the Green Line Extension.

Hennepin County Commissioner Irene Fernando speaks at a podium announcing the Metro Transit Green Line Extension opening date at — *September 26, 2026* — Hennepin County Commissioner Irene Fernando speaks at an event announcing the opening date of the new Metro Transit Green Line Extension light rail line. Metro Transit held the event at the new Louisiana Avenue Station in St Louis Park and says the new line will be running on June 12, 2027.

Two people unveil a banner announcing the Metro Transit Green Line Extension opening date of June 12, 2027. — *September 26, 2026* — Metro Transit announces June 12, 2027 as the opening date of the new Metro Green Line Extension train line. The train line has been decades in development and is the largest public works project in Minnesota history.

Metro Transit Green Line Extension tracks and overhead catenary wires illuminated at night in Minneapolis's Kenilworth Corridor. — *September 26, 2026* — The Kenilworth Corridor carries freight and light-rail traffic through a narrow right-of-way linking Minneapolis's Chain of Lakes area to downtown. Metro Transit's Green Line Extension, also known as the Southwest Light Rail Transit project, runs through this corridor on its way between Minneapolis and Eden Prairie. The overhead catenary wires seen along the tracks supply 750 volts of direct current to power the line's electric trains. Retaining walls were built along sections of the corridor to separate the rail line from adjacent bike and pedestrian trails that share the same narrow strip of land.

Cyclist rides past yellow Metro Transit sign announcing Green Line Extension opening date event on September 26. — *September 16, 2026* — A sign mentioning a September 26, 2026 event where Metro Transit will announce the opening date of the Green Line Extension. The project has been almost ten years in the making.

Metro Transit Test Train 313A at the Royalston Station — *August 13, 2026* — Metro Transit Test Train 313A moves between Royalston Ave and Bryn Mawr Station on the new Green Line Extension route. The new train line is set to open in 2027 after almost a decade of construction.

Metro Transit Test Train 313A at the Bassett Creek Valley Station — *August 13, 2026* — Metro Transit Test Train 313A moves between Royalston Ave and Bryn Mawr Station on the new Green Line Extension route. The new train line is set to open in 2027 after almost a decade of construction.

Metro Transit Test Train 313A near Bryn Mawr Station — *August 13, 2026* — Metro Transit Test Train 313A moves between Royalston Ave and Bryn Mawr Station on the new Green Line Extension route. The new train line is set to open in 2027 after almost a decade of construction.

Metro Transit West Lake Street Station, Minneapolis — *June 15, 2026* — The West Lake Street Station in Minneapolis. The new train station on the Green Line Extension will have passengers beginning next year. The trains are currently in testing. Above, a Metro Transit bus stops on Lake Street.

Train testing on the Metro Transit Green Line Extension — *May 11, 2026* — West Lake Street Station in Minneapolis is shown during pre-opening work on Metro Transit's Green Line Extension, with a safety banner warning that light-rail testing is underway. The station is part of the Southwest LRT project, an extension of the Green Line that will connect Minneapolis with St. Louis Park, Hopkins, Minnetonka, and Eden Prairie. The train line is set to begin running in 2027.

Close-up of a black speaker or audio equipment component labeled "2-2T68T" with a yellow identification sticker. — *May 11, 2026* — This tie plate, stenciled 2-2768T and tagged for car CS2788 Truck 2 West, is part of the rail hardware inventory for the Southwest LRT extension in Minneapolis. The Southwest LRT, known as the Green Line Extension, is a light-rail project run by Metro Transit and the Metropolitan Council, linking downtown Minneapolis to Eden Prairie over roughly 14.5 miles and 16 stations. Components like this plate distribute the load between rail and crosstie, a basic but essential part of track construction.

Railroad crossing sign at Bassett Creek Valley Station in Minneapolis, with illuminated Metro Transit station behind. — *November 14, 2025* — A railroad crossing sign stands in front of the new Bassett Creek Valley Station in Minneapolis at dusk. The station is part of the still under construction Metro Transit green line extension that will connect Eden Prairie to Downtown Minneapolis to St. Paul. The new train line is set to open in 2027.

West Lake Street Station under construction in Minneapolis at night on the Southwest Green Line extension. — *November 13, 2025* — West Lake Street Station in Minneapolis on a November evening. The train station is part of the still under construction Metro Transit green line extension that will connect Eden Prairie to Downtown Minneapolis to St. Paul. The new train line is set to open in 2027.

Aurora borealis over West 21st Street station in Minneapolis at night. — *November 11, 2025* — A very rare sight as the Northern Lights were visible in the city of Minneapolis in the early evening of November 11, 2025. Shown here above the new West 21st Street light rail train station. The train station is near hidden beach and part of the still under construction Metro Transit green line extension that will connect Eden Prairie to Downtown Minneapolis to St. Paul. The new train line is set to open in 2027.

Metro Light Rail train 108B stopped at Southwest Station in Minneapolis during the evening. — *October 14, 2025* — A Metro train, marked "Green Line Extension" and "2027," is stopped at Southwest Station. The "2027" designation likely refers to the planned completion year for the Green Line Extension project, a significant transit development aimed at expanding public transportation access in the region. Southwest Station serves as a key hub for this network, facilitating commuter travel and connecting various parts of the metropolitan area. The train's livery, a combination of green and yellow, is characteristic of the local transit authority's branding.

Light rail train 108B stopped at Southwest Station platform in Minneapolis during evening hours. — *October 14, 2025* — A light rail train, numbered 108B, is stopped at the Southwest Station platform. The station features a digital display indicating "SOUTHWEST STATION: TRACK 2" and "8:50 PM", suggesting it is operational during evening hours. The train's distinctive yellow and green livery is visible, along with safety bollards and ticket signage, indicating a functional public transportation hub. Southwest Station is a key stop on the light rail network, facilitating transit for commuters and visitors within the urban environment.

Light rail vehicle leaves W Lake St Station for first time — *October 14, 2025* — A light rail vehicle undergoes clearance testing at the West Lake Street Station in Minneapolis, marking a significant step in the development of the Southwest LRT line. Construction on this extension began in 2018, with its opening to passengers anticipated in 2027. This testing ensures the safe passage of trains through the station and along the new route, a crucial phase before public service commences. The Southwest LRT project aims to expand public transportation options in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

Light rail vehicle enters Kenilworth Tunnel during Southwest LRT Green Line extension testing in Minneapolis. — *October 14, 2025* — A light rail vehicle enters the Kenilworth Tunnel on the Southwest LRT Green Line extension in Minneapolis. The image shows the new below-grade tunnel portal and adjacent tracks as testing proceeds on a section of the line built to carry trains through the Kenilworth corridor. Construction on this segment began in 2018, and the extension is projected to open for passenger service in 2027. Apartment buildings, construction access roads, and fall foliage frame the route near the tunnel entrance.

Metro Transit light rail vehicle crosses Kenilworth Channel bridge during Southwest LRT extension testing in Minneapolis. — *October 14, 2025* — A Metro Transit light rail vehicle crosses the Kenilworth Channel bridge in Minneapolis during testing for the Southwest LRT extension. The train is wrapped with safety and construction messaging, including “Opens 2027,” identifying it as part of the Green Line Extension project. The bridge carries the new line over the channel through the Kenilworth corridor, where test runs are used to check vehicle operation and route readiness before passenger service begins.

Metro Transit light rail car at W 21st Street Station in Minneapolis during Southwest LRT clearance testing. — *October 14, 2025* — A Metro Transit light rail vehicle is stopped at W 21st Street Station in Minneapolis during clearance testing for the Southwest Light Rail Transit extension. Station signage for “SouthWest Station” is visible above the platform, and construction fencing remains in place along the right-of-way. The tests verify that trains can safely clear platforms, track infrastructure, and other fixed elements before the new line enters passenger service. The Southwest LRT project extends the regional rail system toward the western suburbs and has been under construction since 2018.

Siemens S700 Green Line Extension test train 316A in Minneapolis beneath a station canopy at sunset. — *October 5, 2025* — A Siemens S700 light rail vehicle for Metro Transit’s Green Line Extension passes beneath a cable-stayed station canopy in Minneapolis. The car is wrapped with “Light Rail Testing Happening Now” and GreenLineExt.org graphics promoting public awareness during testing for the Southwest LRT project. The train is identified as car 316A, part of the new fleet ordered for the extension of the Green Line.

Midtown Greenway at Lake Street Station skateborder — *September 8, 2025* — The new Lake Street Station, part of the Southwest Light Rail Green Line Extension. The train line which has been under construction for almost a decade is set to open in 2027. The orange station shown here serves Lake Street above and the large amount of residential apartments below. Skateboard seen skating down the Midtown Greenway trail.

Bryn Mawr Station during blue hour — *July 25, 2025* — Bryn Mawr Station in Minneapolis is shown during final construction on the Metro Transit Green Line Extension, also known as the Southwest LRT project. The station includes a center platform, enclosed ticketing areas, and a pedestrian bridge crossing the tracks, with temporary fencing still in place around unfinished sections. The Green Line Extension is being built to extend light rail service from downtown Minneapolis to communities southwest of the city, adding Bryn Mawr as one of the new intermediate stations on the route.

*July 25, 2025* — Bikers on Cedar Lake Trail near Bryn Mawr Station in Minneapolis on July 25, 2025.

Bryn Mawr Station Spring Sunset — *March 11, 2025* — Bryn Mawr Station in Minneapolis is shown at sunset, with its platforms and tracks under construction. This station is a key component of the Metro Transit Green Line Extension, also known as the Southwest Light Rail Transit (LRT) project.

Excavated light rail tunnel construction site with red and white building and Minneapolis skyline in background. — *June 12, 2024* — Construction is underway on the Kenilworth LRT Tunnel in Minneapolis, a key component of the Southwest Light Rail Transit (Green Line) extension.

Train station at night under construction — *March 28, 2024* — The Bassett Creek Valley Light Rail Transit (LRT) Station in Minneapolis, photographed in March 2024, is part of the Southwest LRT Green Line Extension project.

Workers weld a section of pipeline for Southwest Light Rail Transit construction in Minneapolis. — *November 14, 2023* — The Southwest LRT Green Line extension is a light-rail project adding roughly 14.5 miles of track between Minneapolis and Eden Prairie, with new stations planned through St. Louis Park, Hopkins, Minnetonka, and Eden Prairie. Metro Transit and the Metropolitan Council are overseeing the build, which has faced repeated delays and cost overruns since construction began in 2018. Night and weekend shifts are common on the line, since crews often need to weld and place rail sections along active freight corridors and street rights-of-way without disrupting daytime traffic. Once complete, the extension will connect to the existing Green Line, giving Eden Prairie and Hopkins a direct rail link into downtown Minneapolis.

Red bicycle detour sign marks overgrown Cedar Lake Trail during Southwest Light Rail construction in Minneapolis. — *August 11, 2023* — Nature taking back a trail after it was closed for Light Rail train construction.

Crawler crane and steel sheet piling at SWLRT tunnel excavation site along Kenilworth Trail, Minneapolis. — *June 21, 2023* — The Southwest Light Rail Transit (SWLRT) line runs through a below-grade corridor along the Kenilworth Trail in Minneapolis, connecting the city to Eden Prairie via Hopkins, Minnetonka, and St. Louis Park. Metropolitan Council's Metro Transit oversees the project, which required excavating a shallow tunnel section through the narrow Kenilworth corridor to avoid disrupting the adjacent bike and pedestrian trail.

Construction site for Kenilworth Light Rail Transit tunnel under bridge in Minneapolis. — *April 4, 2022* — Construction along the Midtown Greenway of what will become the Kenilworth Tunnel and West Lake Street Station. The construction is part of the METRO Green Line Extension light rail project.

Construction site under highway overpass for Minneapolis Metro Green Line West Lake Street station. — *August 6, 2020* — The Midtown Greenway runs along a former Milwaukee Road rail corridor that was converted into a pedestrian and bicycle trail beginning in 2000, stretching roughly 5.5 miles through south Minneapolis between the Mississippi River and Chowen Avenue. Lake Street crosses the Greenway on a concrete overpass that also marks the site of the planned West Lake Street Station for the METRO Green Line Extension, part of the Southwest LRT project linking downtown Minneapolis to Eden Prairie. The extension, overseen by the Metropolitan Council, adds roughly 14.5 miles of new light rail track and 16 stations to the regional transit system. Work at this site has involved excavation and grading beneath the bridge to prepare the below-grade station area, consistent with the project's design of routing trains through a trench along this section of the corridor.

Southwest LRT construction site along Kenilworth Trail in Minneapolis with excavated earth and railroad tracks. — *July 30, 2020* — The Kenilworth Corridor carries freight rail, the Kenilworth bike and walking trail, and now the Southwest Light Rail Transit extension through a narrow strip of land between the Chain of Lakes and the Cedar Isles neighborhoods. The Metropolitan Council's Southwest LRT project, known as the Green Line Extension, runs nearly 14.5 miles from Minneapolis to Eden Prairie and adds 16 new stations. The trail recently cleared and being used for construction staging.

Red steel bridge structure under construction over Excelsior Boulevard in St. Louis Park at dusk. — *May 24, 2020* — This bridge carries the Southwest Light Rail Transit extension, also known as the Green Line Extension, over Excelsior Boulevard in St. Louis Park. The project adds roughly 14.5 miles of track connecting downtown Minneapolis to Eden Prairie, with stops planned throughout St. Louis Park, Hopkins, Minnetonka, and Eden Prairie. The Metropolitan Council oversees construction, which involves building new bridges and retaining walls along the corridor to carry trains over existing roads and rail lines.

Construction of the Cedar Lake Trail tunnel under Wooddale Avenue in St. Louis Park at night. — *May 14, 2020* — The Cedar Lake Trail tunnel carries the regional bike and pedestrian path beneath Wooddale Avenue in St. Louis Park. The trail connects Minneapolis's Kenilworth corridor to the western suburbs, following a former railroad right-of-way. This segment was rebuilt as part of the Southwest Light Rail Transit project, which required reconstructing Wooddale Avenue and its crossing structures to accommodate the new Green Line extension.

Concrete retaining wall along Cedar Lake Trail in St. Louis Park with industrial building and mature trees. — *October 7, 2019* — Cedar Lake Trail runs along a former rail corridor connecting the Kenilworth area of Minneapolis to St. Louis Park, used today by cyclists and pedestrians. The trail parallels the alignment of the Metro Green Line Extension, a light rail project linking downtown Minneapolis to Eden Prairie. Construction along this corridor required new retaining walls and the clearing of vegetation to accommodate the rail line. St. Louis Park station is one of several planned stops along this western stretch of the route.

Stacked concrete railroad crossing panels with metal reinforcement stored outdoors in Minneapolis. — *September 30, 2019* — Precast concrete panels like these form the running surface of a railroad grade crossing, fitting between and alongside the rails so vehicles can pass over the tracks without damaging their tires or suspensions. Markings chalked on the edges typically note load ratings, panel width, and sequence numbers so crews install each section in the correct order and orientation.

Construction equipment and containment barriers along Cedar Lake during Metro Green Line Extension work in Minneapolis. — *September 23, 2019* — The Kenilworth Channel connects Cedar Lake and Lake of the Isles in Minneapolis, carrying both water traffic and the Kenilworth Trail along its banks. Construction here is tied to the Metro Green Line Extension, a light-rail project that runs through the Kenilworth corridor en route to Eden Prairie. Steel sheet piling and formwork mark the early stages of a bridge support structure, with turbidity barriers placed in the water to contain sediment during in-water work. The corridor has long been a point of contention in the project's planning, given its shared use by rail, trail, and waterway traffic.

Wooden formwork and steel shoring towers support bridge deck construction over Highway 100 during Green Line Extension light rail — *September 4, 2019* — The Green Line Extension is a light rail project adding 14.5 miles of track between Minneapolis and Eatan Prairie, with a bridge crossing over Highway 100 in St. Louis Park as one of its structures. Metro Transit and the Metropolitan Council oversee the project, which extends the existing Green Line that currently runs between Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Formwork and shoring towers built from wood and steel supports are standard methods for pouring concrete bridge decks and piers during highway-spanning construction like this.

Cedar Lake Trail Light Rail Construction, Burnham Road — *August 19, 2019* — The view of what was the Cedar Lake Trail seen from Burnham Road. The trail was ripped up during light rail construction that will bring a train from Eden Prairie to Minneapolis to St. Paul.

Kenilworth Trail after closure for Light Rail construction — *July 23, 2019* — The Kenilworth Trail construction seen on July 23, 2019. The trail was closed for years

Trees being cleared on the Kenilworth Trail in July 2019 — *July 23, 2019* — Trees being cleared out on the Kenilworth Trail in Minneapolis during Metro Transit Green Line light rail construction.

Unpaved construction path beneath highway overpass along Cedar Lake Trail during Metro Transit Green Line Extension project in — *July 23, 2019* — The Cedar Lake Trail shortly after it was ripped up during the Metro Transit Green Line Extension light rail project. The trail re-opened in 2025.

Paved trail winds through dense deciduous forest with mature trees lining both sides. — *July 14, 2019* — The Kenilworth Trail runs through the Kenilworth corridor connecting the Chain of Lakes area with downtown Minneapolis, following a former rail right-of-way once used by freight lines. The paved path is shared by pedestrians and cyclists and links to the regional Grand Rounds trail network. The corridor has long been the subject of planning debate as the proposed route for the Southwest Light Rail Transit extension of the Metro Green Line, with construction requiring the trail to be rerouted and rebuilt in sections alongside the new rail line.

Deteriorated wooden bridge spanning Cedar Lake channel alongside Burnham Trail in Minneapolis during Green Line Extension — *July 14, 2019* — The bridge over the Cedar Lake/Lake of the Isles channel in Minneapolis. The bridge was removed and replaced during construction of the Metro Transit Green Line Extension.

Grove construction crane and equipment on railroad tracks along the Kenilworth Trail in Minneapolis. — *July 14, 2019* — The Kenilworth Trail follows a former Milwaukee Road rail corridor connecting Minneapolis's Cedar Lake and Lake of the Isles areas to Hopkins. The corridor has been used for freight rail, bike and pedestrian paths, and is the planned route for the Metro Green Line Extension light rail. Construction crews have used the rail line for staging materials, including ties and ballast, during the extension's preliminary work. A Grove mobile crane, commonly used for lifting rail and bridge components, appears among the equipment staged along the tracks.

Orange safety fencing installed along Kenilworth Trail during Metro Green Line Extension construction in Minneapolis. — *July 14, 2019* — The Kenilworth Trail runs alongside active freight and light-rail tracks through the Kenilworth Corridor, a narrow strip of land connecting the Chain of Lakes to downtown Minneapolis. The corridor has long carried both recreational trail traffic and rail lines, a dual use that predates the current Green Line Extension project. Construction fencing here marks work tied to that extension, which is adding light-rail tracks through the same shared right-of-way used by the trail and freight rail. The project has required temporary trail reroutes and vegetation clearing along sections of the corridor during construction.

Yellow Grove mobile crane on Kenilworth Trail in Minneapolis during Southwest LRT construction. — *July 8, 2019* — This Grove RT600E rough-terrain crane, operated by C.S. McCrossan, was staged along the Kenilworth Trail during construction of Metro Transit's Southwest LRT Green Line Extension. The crane can lift up to 60 tons and extend a boom beyond 100 feet, making it suited for setting bridge and tunnel components along the corridor. The Kenilworth corridor carries freight rail and a recreational trail between the Chain of Lakes and downtown Minneapolis, and became a major staging area for the light-rail line's tunnel and bridge work. C.S. McCrossan, a Minnesota-based heavy civil contractor, has worked on multiple segments of the Southwest LRT project.

Excavated construction site along Kenilworth Trail with brick building and modern apartment tower in Minneapolis. — *July 8, 2019* — Construction on the area that was the Kenilworth Trail that connected the Midtown Greenway with the Cedar Lake Trail. The trail was closed for years for construction of the new Metro Transit Green Line Light Rail line.

Steaming Mulch on Midtown Greenway — *June 24, 2019* — Steaming mulch seen on the Midtown Greenway during Metro Transit's light rail construction work.

Burnham Trail during Light Rail construction June 2019 — *June 24, 2019* — The Burnham Trail portion of the Kenilworth Trail in Minneapolis. Photo taken in June 2019 after the trail closed in preparation for the Southwest LRT light rail construction.

John Deere 843L Feller Buncher Southwest LRT Construction — *June 19, 2019* — A John Deere 843L feller buncher sits parked near the railway tracks in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, during the early stages of construction for the Southwest Light Rail Transit (LRT) project. Designed primarily for forestry work, this heavy-duty machine—with its massive front grapple and thick treaded tires—was adapted for clearing brush and trees along the rail corridor.

Construction equipment and excavation site at Louisiana Avenue light rail station in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. — *June 19, 2019* — Metro Transit Louisiana Avenue Green Line Light Rail station prior to construction.

Kenilworth Trail at Midtown Greenway in June 2019 — *June 2, 2019* — The Kenilworth Trail at the Midtoiwn Greeenway pictured in June 2019.

Aerial view of light rail construction equipment crossing railroad tracks at Green Line and Beltline Boulevard in St. Louis Park. — *May 13, 2019* — Beltline Boulevard crosses a freight rail corridor in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, just west of Minneapolis. The tracks here run through the Southwest LRT corridor, part of the route being rebuilt for the METRO Green Line Extension connecting downtown Minneapolis to Eden Prairie. Heavy equipment positioned along the rails points to ongoing trackwork tied to that transit construction project.

Yellow railroad maintenance vehicle operates on light rail tracks during Southwest LRT construction in St. Louis Park. — *May 13, 2019* — The Southwest LRT, also known as the Green Line Extension, is a light rail project extending Metro Transit's existing Green Line roughly 14.5 miles from Minneapolis through St. Louis Park, Hopkins, Minnetonka, and Eden Prairie. Construction has required extensive work on existing freight rail corridors, including track realignment and maintenance to accommodate shared and adjacent rail lines. The project is being built and overseen by the Metropolitan Council, with completion delayed multiple times past its original targeted opening.

Workers install new rail tracks for the Metro Transit Green Line Extension in St. Louis Park. — *May 13, 2019* — Crews working the Southwest LRT line in St. Louis Park use a rail loader car, a flatbed-mounted machine that threads long steel rails off a train and positions them along the roadbed for installation. The Southwest LRT, known operationally as the Green Line Extension, is a Metropolitan Council project extending light rail service roughly 14.5 miles from Minneapolis through St. Louis Park, Hopkins, Minnetonka, and Eden Prairie. The line runs largely along former freight corridors, requiring extensive new track construction rather than simple conversion of existing rail. Rail-loading equipment like this allows crews to deliver continuous welded rail sections directly to the grade, reducing the need for separate hauling and placement steps during construction.

Long train of empty freight cars lined up on railroad tracks beside green spring vegetation. — *May 13, 2019* — The Metro Transit Green Line Extension, also known as the Southwest Light Rail Transit project, is a roughly 14.5-mile light rail line under construction between Minneapolis and Eden Prairie, Minnesota. It extends the existing Green Line, which opened in 2014 and links downtown Minneapolis with downtown St. Paul. Building the line requires delivering continuous welded rail in long sections, typically hauled on specialized flatcars like the ones pictured here. Metro Transit, the regional transit authority for the Twin Cities, is overseeing construction and will operate the completed extension.

Illuminated water tower and grain elevator at dusk along Cedar Lake Trail in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. — *September 9, 2017* — The Cedar Lake Trail in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, traverses a landscape marked by its industrial past, with the city's water tower and grain elevators standing as prominent landmarks. This paved trail follows a former railroad corridor, originally part of the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railway, which was integral to the region's freight network and supported local industries.

METRO Green Line Extension (Southwest LRT)

Minneapolis Photographer