Motorists planning to travel through Minnetonka may need to prepare for delays and detours as a key segment of Highway 7 is slated to close for construction. According to an announcement by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), both directions between Vine Hill Road and County Road 101 will be off-limits starting at 7 p.m. on October 15. The closure, necessary to replace a failing culvert beneath the highway, is expected to last until the early morning hours of October 20.
Preparing for the construction, MnDOT has laid out alternate routes for disrupted travelers. Westbound drivers will be rerouted to southbound I-494, westbound Highway 5, and northbound Highway 41, bringing them back to Highway 7. Travelers heading east will take the reverse course, directed down southbound Highway 41, over to eastbound Highway 5, and then up northbound I-494 to rejoin their path on Highway 7. Meanwhile, waiting to be replaced, the culvert lies quietly below the bustling traffic, soon to receive the attention necessary for roadway safety and continuity.
Additionally, residents should be aware that this construction will affect local access, with Highway access points at Lynwood Terrace and Old Excelsior Boulevard also being closed during this period. MnDOT urges motorists to exercise caution when driving near work zones and to adhere to the posted speed limits as workers will be present.
Scheduled to precede the complete closure, traffic on westbound Highway 7 will also face restrictions with a lane reduction in place between 101 and Vine Hill Road starting at 9 a.m. on October 15. Expected to ease by 4 p.m. the same day, this preliminary measure will allow crews to prepare for the upcoming, more extensive work. MnDOT reminds the public that all of these traffic impacts are dependent on the weather, and dates could shift if conditions are not favorable, said the statement obtained by Minnetonka's official website.
