Drivers in St. Louis Park should brace for detours and road closures as the Cedar Lake Road improvement project enters a new phase. City contractor, Eureka Construction, has split the project into two stages with significant traffic impacts. The West Stage sees Cedar Lake Road closed to through traffic from Jordan Avenue to the east driveway of Westwood Lutheran Church. Commuters are advised to follow the designated detour signs to navigate around the closure.
Local access, however, remains for those headed to Westwood Lutheran Church and School until August 8th, which is currently in the Middle Stage of the project, ranging from the church's east driveway to Virginia Circle. Starting August 8th, church access will reroute to the west stage using the entrance from Highway 169. During the week of July 29 and August 5, crews will be busy with the installation of concrete driveway aprons and paving the first layer of asphalt pavement. According to a construction update from the City of St. Louis Park, the paving is scheduled for August 7, with subsequent work on the sidewalks to follow the completion of the paving.
In the Middle Stage, besides maintaining access for locals, work has commenced on removing existing curbs and driveways. The city and contractor are striving to conduct the ongoing underground utility replacement without impacting traffic flows significantly. This stage of the project expects full closure to through traffic on August 8th. Aaron Wiesen, a project engineer for the City of St. Louis Park, stated, "The contractor plans to start underground utility replacement work this week and continue into next week."
Residents along Cedar Lake Road should also anticipate activity from private utility companies. Relocating services along the corridor from Jordan Avenue to Rhode Island Avenue, utility companies might cause intermittent road shoulder and sidewalk closures. It's part of a wider effort to bolster the community's infrastructure. "We apologize for any inconvenience construction may cause you," mentioned Mark Lockhart, Project Coordinator for the City of St. Louis Park, underscoring the city's commitment to improving streets and utilities for the long-term benefit of residents and commuters alike.
For those seeking more detailed information on what to expect during the construction period, the City of St. Louis Park encourages reviewing the 2024 Cedar Lake Road Improvements Newsletter and visiting the project's website. This resource provides updates, timelines, and resources to assist the public in navigating the ongoing construction landscape.
