
Eden Prairie is bracing for a significant disruption today as the community comes together to pay their respects to three fallen heroes. The public memorial for Burnsville Police Officers Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge, as well as Firefighter/Paramedic Adam Finseth, is scheduled to commence at 11 a.m. at Grace Church in Eden Prairie. In a show of solidarity and mourning, an unprecedented number of first responders are expected to attend, leading to considerable road closures and traffic changes around the church and procession route.
Residents and travelers should prepare to adjust their plans as several roads will be closed from approximately 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. to safely facilitate the memorial and procession. Major closures include Pioneer Trail from Eden Prairie Road to Mitchell Road and southbound Mitchell Road from Blakeney Road to Pioneer Trail. Additionally, minibusses and other forms of transport might need to reroute drastically just to circumvent the restricted areas. Information acquired from the City of Eden Prairie's official announcement highlights that Eden Prairie Road, Charlson Road, and a segment of Mitchell Road will be inaccessible during these hours.
Please be aware of traffic impacts surrounding the memorial service for Police Officers Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge and Firefighter/Paramedic Adam Finseth. Visit this link for planned closures: https://t.co/lVMK8CGMLg pic.twitter.com/JLqnvBAtYs
— City of Burnsville (@BurnsvilleMN) February 28, 2024
With this large-scale public service, parking will also be affected. Overflow parking has been arranged at Staring Lake Park on the south side and at Miller Park, but those parked at Staring Lake will be unable to leave until the end of the procession. Public safety vehicles have special allowances and will be parked at Flying Cloud Fields. Local officials urge those in the southern part of the city to find alternative routes and expect delays.
The City is also working closely with local schools to ensure minimal disruption to the day's routines. Eden Prairie Schools are reportedly communicating with families about potential effects on bus routes. Travelers and residents should be aware of potentially having to wait longer than anticipated due to the unpredictable nature of such an event. Despite the inconvenience, the closures reflect the gravity of the situation and the community's desire to appropriately honor the memory of its fallen public servants.
The full details of the road closures and impacted areas can be found on the City of Eden Prairie's website. For up-to-the-minute updates, residents are encouraged to monitor local traffic reports and heed advisories from city officials.