Construction

Hwy 7 / Wooddale Avenue Interchange Project
The City of St. Louis Park is developing plans for the reconstruction of the Trunk Highway (TH) 7/Wooddale Avenue intersection as a grade‑separated interchange. The proposed grade separated intersection project is intended to alleviate congestion and delays while improving vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian mobility in the project area. The project will be designed to accommodate trail needs, rail operations, access to property and future Light Rail Transit (LRT). Several concepts were identified and analyzed for this project with only one concept, Concept D, meeting the goals of the project. Concept D has been recommended for further development and consideration.

A Public Information Open House was held December 6, 2007 where attendees were able to review and comment on the concepts considered for this project. Staff from the City of St. Louis Park and SRF Consulting Group, Inc. made a brief presentation and answered questions.

Recommended Concept D
Project Schedule
Plan Layout
Artist Rendering (looking W-SW)
General Information

Hwy 7 / Wooddale Avenue Project Information

• Project Need. The proposed project is needed to (1) provide improved travel with fewer conflicting turn movements, (2) improve pedestrian and bicycle travel, and (3) alleviate congestion that is causing commuter delays and back-ups on local streets.
  
• Project Background. In 2005 the City of St. Louis Park secured federal funding to help with a portion of expected project costs. In 2006 the City conducted an area wide traffic study that documented the need for improvements in the project area. Concept alternatives were developed and evaluated in 2007 with Concept D recommended for further development.
  
• Current Activities. The project team is developing preliminary plans and an environmental assessment based on recommended Concept D.
  
• Future Activities. Detailed design and completion of the Environmental Assessment document (required under state and federal laws) is expected to be completed by September 2008. Acquisition of any required right of way is expected to occur in late 2008 with construction anticipated in 2009 and 2010.
  
• Public Involvement. Input received from an earlier June 5, 2007 project open house was used to help develop and evaluate concept alternatives considered for this project. An open house was held December 6, 2007 which showed the public the recommended alternative and provided an opportunity for further public input. Additional public meetings will be held in 2008 during the formal Environmental Assessment process.
  
• Project Funding.The overall cost of the project is approximately $18 million (M). The City of St. Louis Park has secured $5.9M in federal funds and has already spent $3M in right of way acquisition for needed property. City officials are actively pursuing additional funding from Mn/DOT and other local agencies. There are no plans for special assessments to fund this project.

Project Schedule:

• Concept Development: Completed
• Recommended Alternative Selection: Completed
• Information Meetings: 2007 to 2008
• EA/EAW Public Hearing: Summer 2008
• Final Design: Summer/Fall 2008
• Right of Way Acquisition/Relocation: Fall 2008<
• Construction: 2009 to 2010 (anticipated)

Project Contact:

Scott Brink, PE
City Engineer
Phone: (952) 924-2555
Email: sbrink@stlouispark.org

To answer questions and concerns raised so far, we have created a Frequently Asked Questions document. FAQ click here

Next Phase of Highway 100 Expansion - 2014
Due to funding restrictions, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) announced that it would delay reconstruction of Highway 100 in St. Louis Park until 2014, four years later than originally promised. While a bill passed by the Minnesota Legislature would have made it possible to move construction back to 2010, the bill was vetoed by Governor Pawlenty. Without funding from the bill, the construction start date is back to 2014.

To remove traffic bottlenecks and enhance safety, the construction project would expand Highway 100 to three northbound and three southbound lanes from 36th Avenue to Cedar Lake Road. This would complete Highway 100's three lane configuration all the way to I-494.

• Expanding the roadway to a six-lane freeway by adding a additional lane in each direction
• Replacing the existing bridges and correcting deficient bridge clearances
• Rebuilding the interchanges at Highway 7 and Minnetonka Boulevard
• Improving drainage and addressing flooding problems under the railroad bridge
• Adding noise mitigation walls.

• Wayne Norris, West Area Engineer
• Office: (651) 582-1295
• wayne.norris@dot.state.mn.us
  
  
• Tom O'Keefe, P.E. , Metro Division Area Manager
• Office: (651) 582-1296
• thomas.okeefe@dot.state.mn.us

Construction, once underway, would take two or more years to complete. For more information, contact the MnDOT Public Affairs office, at (651) 234-7508 or metroinfo@dot.state.mn.us.

Residents or potential property owners along Highway 100 between I- 394 and 36th Street should contact MnDOT West Area Engineer Wayne Norris with questions related to the reconstruction project. He can be reached at wayne.norris@dot.state.mn.us

Other Construction News
To learn about highway construction projects, go to the Minnesota Department of Transportation's web site at http://www.dot.state.mn.us/roadwork/bynum50.html