Fall 2009 Street Closures

Labor Day was Monday, which means the end of the State Fair, the start of school, and the beginning of Fall here in the northland. For Summit Avenue, Fall brings the St Paul Bike Classic and the Twin Cities Marathon.

Bike Classic: Sunday 9/13/09

Summit Avenue will not be closed to car traffic for the Bike Classic, however, parking will be restricted on the North side of the street on Sunday, September 13th, 2009 during the event in order to provide an expanded bike lane (From the Classic's website, "On some open streets, like Summit Avenue, a wide lane is provided for cyclists). The bike ride--it is not a race, just a fun family-friendly event--will begin at Cretin and Summit, and I imagine there will be a bit of a bottle neck there around the two start times of 7:15 AM and 9:15 AM. For more information, check out their website or the course map.

Marathon: Sunday 10/4/09

Summit Avenue will be closed for the Twin Cities Marathon on Sunday October 4, 2009 from 6:50 AM until around 2:00 PM for most of Summit, for more information, check out TC Marathon's page on road closures and Marathon Course Information.

Pre-Marathon: Saturday 10/3/09

The East end of Summit, from the Cathedral to Pascal Street, will be closed to all traffic on Saturday morning October 3rd, 2009 at approx. 8:20 a.m. until approx. 11:30 a.m. for a 5k Fun Run. For more information, check out TC Marathon's page on road closures.

Tree Work

Many SARPA members and readers of this blog will remember back a score and some years ago when Dutch Elm disease swept though St Paul, thinning much of the gorgeous canopy of trees along Summit. Unfortunately, tough times for trees have returned to St Paul. I came across a two block closure of Summit this afternoon toward the eastern end of the Avenue, and in the middle found a crew of tree workers. I immediately guessed it was the Emerald Ash Borer, a reasonable assumption since the borer was discovered in St Paul this Spring. And while it is likely that there are ash trees along Summit that will come down, the tree being removed today was a 100+ year old Elm struck down by the old tree killer, Dutch Elm Disease.


For more information on the Emerald Ash Borer locally, the University of Minnesota Extension Services offers the following advice if you have an ash tree:

• Ash trees lack a way to defend against these pests. Once an ash is attacked, it will be killed.
• Look for 1/8 inch, D-shaped exit holes in trees. These are the result of borers leaving the tree once they have become adults.
• Do not apply insecticides to ash trees out of the likely range of emerald ash borer.
• Do not transport firewood, even within Minnesota.
• Extension has close to 200 volunteers trained as emerald ash borer First Detectors. These volunteers can help homeowners determine if their ash trees have been attacked.
• If you think you have found emerald ash borer, go through the steps at Do I have emerald ash borer? (246 K PDF) to be sure. Those without internet access can call Forest Resources Extension at 612-624-3020.

More Ash Borer Information:

Local blog with a wealth of information about the ash borer, including great images.
City of St Paul website: the city's plan to dealing with the ash borer.