If you’re anything like me, you probably assumed I am referring to a lyric from a Prince song. As it turns out, it’s actually an engineering term to describe a type of traffic interchange. The reason I’m telling you all this is because a “tight diamond” is currently the preferred redesign approach to the Hiawatha – Lake Street intersection.

As someone who is fired up about improving this node, I find this to be really exciting! Engineering means design change, and design change means construction, and construction means physically reconfiguring the Hi-Lake intersection for pedestrians and cars alike!

Of course there is that pesky issue of funding these changes, but I feel momentum building, and I want you to hear from those who know their engineering from their R&B lyrics.

So, I invite you to look for invitations and public meetings in the coming months as the city of Minneapolis, Hennepin County, MNDOT and Metro Transit works to engage the community in this discussion.

In the meantime, if you want to know more about tight diamonds, Google “Hi Lake Interchange Study.” It will pull up a presentation that the Land Use and Housing Committee heard 18 months ago. And while you’re at it, come join a Land Use and Housing meeting. We’re a fun bunch of people and our next meeting is Thursday, November 2, at 6:30 at the CNO office.