Minn. Capitol Lawn About To Go As Renovation Nears

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota's front lawn is about to be ripped up.

As soon as this week, crews working on the state Capitol renovation project will begin taking up big sections of the green space in front of the building. It will be replaced by temporary parking lots to make up for existing spots being lost during construction.

The renovation team considered shuttling employees from remote lots but found that option to be more expensive and less convenient. The plan is to create a couple of asphalt lots and replace the grass once the $271 million remodel is done in 2017.

A schedule released by the Department of Administration tentatively has parking lot work beginning this week. An agency official said exact timing was dependent on permits.

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