Construction Updates

36th Street Lighting and Streetscape Project (Wooddale Avenue to Highway 100)
Current Status: The project is substantially complete. Remaining work includes final restoration and punch-list items, including the installation of remaining plantings and trees. Remaining work will be completed in the spring of 2010.

Project Description
Streetscape improvements will be constructed on both sides of 36th Street between Wooddale Avenue and Highway 100. The work essentially will consist of the removal of the existing sidewalks and fixtures and replacing with new sidewalks, planters, trees, and decorative lighting. The improvements will be consistent with the recent sidewalk and lighting improvements constructed on the north side of 36th street adjacent to the new development between Webster and Xenwood. The street itself (36th Street) will remain as is with the exception of some widening on the north side to accommodate on-street parking.

Projected Completion:  December  2009
Contact: Scott Brink (City of St. Louis Park) (952) 924-22687

Hwy 7 / Louisiana Avenue Interchange Project
The City of St. Louis Park is beginning a study for a new grade separated interchange at the intersection of Hwy 7 and Louisiana Avenue.  A new interchange would place a Hwy 7 bridge over Louisiana Avenue.  The City and its partners, in conjunction with consultant, Short Elliot Hendrickson Inc. (SEH) are developing concept designs for a new interchange.

Public Open House - January 26, 2010    5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

For complete information on the study, click here to visit the project webpage.

Highway 7/Wooddale Avenue Interchange Construction
Current Status: Over the next couple of months, private utility work (gas, electric, telephone, etc.) will be continuing and wrapping up. Unless winter weather allows for additional work, the contractor is not expected to engage in significant construction activity again until February, 2010. At that time, work will begin on relocation of the Met Council sewer interceptor and storm sewer construction, followed by the commencement of earthwork for the bridge abutments and retaining walls.

The south frontage road will still have access to Wooddale Avenue for at least the next couple of months. Upon the eventual closure of the frontage road access at Wooddale, all access to properties along the south side of Highway 7 (Cityscape Apartments, McGarvey Coffee, and SPS) will be directly to-and-from Highway 7.

Management and inspection of the project construction is being provided by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT). Current updates can also be accessed from Mn/DOT at:
www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/news/09/09/22-hwy7.html

Following is a general synopsis of how the construction is expected to proceed and progress after the utility work is completed:

Stage 1 - Highway 7 mainline traffic will be shifted to the north side of the corridor to allow for work on the south side of the highway corridor to proceed. Access to-and-from Highway 7 from Wooddale (on the south side) will be closed. During this time, an extensive amount of utility relocation (including the MCES sanitary sewer force main) will be occurring. Relocation of the south frontage road will also take place during this stage, along with construction of the south exit and entrance ramps and abutments for the new Wooddale Avenue Bridge that will extend over Highway 7. Access to-and-from Highway 7 from Wooddale on the north side will be limited to a right-in and right-out movement. Stage 1 is expected to last through the spring of 2010. The contractor’s work plan, and the weather, will determine how much, if any, work can be accomplished over the winter season.

Stage 2 - Highway 7 mainline traffic will be shifted to the south side of the corridor to allow for work on the north side of the highway corridor to proceed. Access to-and-from Highway 7 from Wooddale (on the north side) will be closed. During this time, construction of the north exit and entrance ramps and abutments for the new Wooddale Bridge that will extend over Highway 7 will be completed. Access to-and-from Highway 7 from Wooddale on the south will be limited to right-in and right-out movements. Completing Stage 2 will be the setting of the bridge beams and completion of the bridge itself. Completion of Stage 2 and the opening of full interchange access is expected to be completed in the fall of 2010.

Stage 3 – Center median work, completion of stormwater detention areas, and miscellaneous restoration work will occur during the remainder of the 2010 construction season. Final restoration, including turf restoration and plantings, will be completed by June of 2011.

Further details will be provided after a pre-construction meeting is held, soon, with the contractor.

Project Description
The City of St. Louis Park has completed plans for the reconstruction of the intersection of Highway 7 and Wooddale Avenue to a separated grade interchange. The reconstruction will essentially provide for the bridging of Wooddale Avenue over Highway 7 with connecting ramps and re-alignment of the south frontage road. The project is being constructed to alleviate traffic congestion on both Highway 7 and Wooddale, accommodate projected traffic growth in the immediate and greater area, improve bicycle and pedestrian access, and improve overall safety.

Construction is expected to commence in September 2009, and extend through the end of 2010. Further details regarding construction phasing and scheduling will be provided in later updates.

Projected Completion: December 2010

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

News Article:
Aug. 5, 2009 Star Tribune story

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

Mn/Dot Construction News
Visit the Minnesota Department of Transportation's web site at www.dot.state.mn.us/roadwork/current.html to learn about highway construction projects.

Neighborhood Residential Street Rehabilitation (Aquila and Amhurst Neighborhoods)
Current Status:  Project complete for the year. Minor re-seeding work will occur next Spring.

Contact: Jim Olson (City of St. Louis Park) (952) 924-2555

Next Phase of Highway 100 Expansion - 2014
Due to funding restrictions, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) 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 Street to Cedar Lake Road. This would complete Highway 100's three lane configuration all the way to I-494.

• Expanding the roadway to a permanent six-lane freeway by upgrading the recent temporary widening
• 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.

• Scott Pedersen, West Area Engineer
• Office: (651) 234-7726
• scott.pedersen@dot.state.mn.us
  
  
• John Griffith, P.E. , Metro Division Area Manager
• Office: (651) 234-7728
• john.griffith@dot.state.mn.us

Construction, once underway, would take two or more years to complete. For more information, contact the Mn/DOT Public Affairs office, at (651) 234-7508.

Residents or potential property owners along Highway 100 between I- 394 and 36th Street should contact Mn/DOT West Area Engineer Scott Pedersen with questions related to the reconstruction project. He can be reached at scott.pedersen@dot.state.mn.us