Residents and commuters navigating the areas surrounding Cedar Lake Road should prepare for continued disruptions as Eureka Construction presses on with the 2024 Road Improvement project. St. Louis Park city officials have shared updates in construction update #12, highlighting both traffic impacts and the progress of the work. Cedar Lake Road between Jordan Avenue and Virginia Circle remains closed to through traffic, with a detour posted for the convenience of residents and visitors alike. Access to Westwood Lutheran Church can be found through the west stage of construction, and a specific map for this route is available for church-goers.
Hennepin County's recent reopening of Minnetonka Boulevard comes as a relief to many, allowing for better traffic flow in the area. The original detour route—comprising Highway 169, Minnetonka Blvd, and Louisiana Avenue—is back in effect, promising to ease some of the ongoing congestion. "We understand that at times the area will be busy during drop off and pick up and ask that you drive with caution, be patient and be observant for pedestrians or bikers," states Aaron Wiesen, Project Engineer for the City of St. Louis Park, acknowledging the inconvenience caused by these necessary improvements.
Meanwhile, educational institutions are not exempt from the upheaval. Park Spanish Immersion School will maintain access only from the west via Highway 169. For the convenience of parents and school officials, a map outlining access to the school has been published. However, families and school buses face a forthcoming shift in their daily routes. The intersection of Texas Avenue and Cedar Lake Road will soon close as the east stage of the project commences, necessitating the use of Louisiana Avenue, Wayzata Blvd, and Texas Avenue to reach the middle school. Alternate arrangements have been detailed for the majority of school buses to reroute to avoid the heart of construction.
The week of August 26 and September 2 marks not only the end of summer but also the continuation of substantial work along Cedar Lake Road. "The contractor continues to work on underground utility replacement work in the middle stage," notes Mark Lockhart, Project Coordinator for the City of S.t Louis Park, referring to the necessary sewer, water main, and storm replacement. Once utility work concludes, the contractor will initiate street grading and aggregate base placement, with concrete work touted for a mid-September start. Area residents should expect the presence of private utility companies as they relocate services throughout the project's corridor, stretching from Jordan Avenue to Rhode Island Avenue.
For those seeking further details on scheduled work and how to navigate the area during this time, resources such as the 2024 Cedar Lake Road Improvements Newsletter and the project website are available. The City of St. Louis Park extends its apologies for the disruptions caused and expresses gratitude for the community's cooperation and understanding as it works to enhance the city's infrastructure and safety for all modes of travel.
