Highway 7, a crucial thoroughfare slicing through Minnetonka, sees more than 40,000 vehicles per day, turning it into a locale rife with safety concerns for not only those in cars but also pedestrians and bikers. According to a recent article published by the city, Minnetonka's own Police Chief Scott Boerboom succinctly stated, "When it comes to accidents, Hwy 7 ranks among the top in the city."
In response to the treacherous driving and commuting conditions, the Minnetonka Police Department and various local law enforcement agencies banded together to form the Hwy 7 Safety Coalition, having received a generous $450,000 state grant to support heightened enforcement, educational efforts, redesigned roadways, and the integration of improved technology to bring about a safer environment for travel.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) is deep into a transportation study of the highway stretching from Hopkins to St. Bonifacius; this initiative seeks to gauge travel needs and pinpoint what enhancements are needed along the Hwy 7 corridor, following closely on the heels of a road safety audit completed in 2022 that suggested a raft of improvements.
The spirit of collaboration extends past law enforcement to the mayors of surrounding locales, who convene to dissect their concerns and relay them to MnDOT, a testimony to the highway's significant role in connecting the western metro area, with Mayor Brad Wiersum affirming the commitment: "We continue to invest in ways that will make Hwy 7 a safe and efficient way to travel through Minnetonka now and into the future," an ethos of progress and safety leading the way.
