St. Paul, Minnesota – It is mid-August, but the construction season is just getting underway in the capital.

St. Paul will soon begin nearly 45 miles of street improvement projects, all part of the city’s “Common Cent” strategy.

As city workers work on Hamline Avenue in St. Paul, few are more excited than Sharon Hemmons.

“Overdue,” Hemmons said. “Years, years.”

Hemmons said there are road problems “everywhere you go” in this city.

But now a radical change has taken place.

“Less than a year after passage, we have over 100 Common Cent projects in every corner of this city,” said Mayor Melvin Carter.

Voters have agreed a 1 cent increase in the local sales tax to finance improvements to city parks, streets, etc.

Major work on Grand Avenue and Fairview Avenue will begin later this month. They are part of a series of projects, all funded by St. Paul’s 1-cent sales tax. The director of the public works department says these are major projects that he is very excited about.

“Honestly, it gives me goosebumps when I talk about it,” said Sean Kershaw.

Kershaw said that, mathematically, 40 miles of road were reconstructed over a 15-year period at a cost of $750 million.

“It’s a great feeling for us as employees to be able to say that we’re not just planning projects, thinking about projects, or hoping we can implement projects, but that we can actually implement those projects,” he said.

Although most of the work will not begin until next year, at least one person is already counting down the days.

“It’s time they did something for St. Paul,” Hemmons said. “I think it’s a good thing. It’s time. It’s time. It’s long overdue.”

The Grand Avenue project is more than just a road repair. The city said the improvements will also benefit businesses, pedestrians and bicyclists.