Green Line back up after mudslide halted service in Minneapolis

(FOX 9) - The METRO Green Line light rail was temporarily out of service due to a mudslide in Minneapolis, Metro Transit officials confirmed Wednesday. It was back up and running by about 12:20 p.m.

According to the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, at about 9:30 a.m., staff was notified of a slope failure along the Mississippi riverbank next to East River Pawkway, between Washington Avenue and Arlington street by the University of Minnesota campus.

The mudslide prompted officials to halt Green Line service from the East Bank to West Bank stations.

East River Parkway remains closed until officials can further assess the area.

Engineers assessed the situation and gave Metro Transit the green light to resume operations by 12:20 p.m.

“We’re always concerned from a safety standpoint when there are things we don’t know that have occurred, and we want to keep users and university students and staff safe, so we air on the side of caution here,” said Cliff Swenson with the park board.

“Landslides are difficult to investigate. Unlike a tornado where you go out and see everything, all the damage…in landslides, the stuff is hidden, and you have to get out there and have engineers core and take samples underneath the surface and see if we are done for now or if there is an ongoing hazard. That takes time,” added Eric Waage, Emergency Management Director for Hennepin County.