Attention St. Louis Park residents and commuters: significant road closures are on the horizon as Eureka Construction gears up for the Cedar Lake Road Improvement project, with the goal of enhancing road conditions and utility services. According to a bulletin from the City of St. Louis Park, starting Thursday, September 19, Cedar Lake Road will be closed to through traffic between Jordan Avenue and Virginia Circle, and again from Virginia Circle to Rhode Island Avenue, including the intersection of Cedar Lake Road and Texas Avenue.
The directive urges commuters to follow the posted detour signs to navigate the closures. For those seeking access to Westwood Lutheran Church and Park Spanish Immersion School, alternative routes have been clearly outlined in the provided maps. Similarly, reaching the SLP Middle School will now require a bit of detouring through Louisiana Avenue, Wayzata Boulevard, and Texas Avenue.
Upcoming construction activities include the installation of signs, lighting, and rapid flashing beacons at crossing locations in the west stage which is drawing to a close, as informed by Aaron Wiesen, Project Engineer for the City of St. Louis Park. The completion of these tasks, alongside the much-anticipated paving of the final layer of bituminous pavement, is slated for mid-October. Meanwhile, underground utility replacement work is wrapping up in the middle stage with the grading contractor steadily progressing in preparation for the new road base. Mark Lockhart, Project Coordinator, highlights the persistence of concrete operations, which are expected to span over multiple weeks.
The east stage is set for a dynamic shift come Thursday, September 19, when traffic barriers go up and the current pavement gets removed the following day. Project Engineer Aaron Wiesen states, "Underground utility work to start on Monday, September 23." Additionally, private utility companies are also in the mix, continuing to shift their services along the corridor throughout the project's duration. Residents can stay informed about the construction's progress and what to expect by visiting the Cedar Lake Road Improvements Newsletter on the city's project website.
The city has expressed apologies for the disruption the construction may cause and appreciates public understanding and cooperation. Those experiencing inconvenience due to the project are encouraged to reach out to Wiesen and Lockhart using the contact details provided in the city's statement. School transportation protocols have adjusted to these road works, with buses relegated to alternate routes that aim to skirt the construction commotion, albeit, temporary parking restrictions will be put in place on adjacent streets like Virginia Circle and Xylon Avenue.
