Road Report: June 3, 2024

Construction season is here, so we’re back with our weekly look at what projects are done, where you’ll find traffic impacts and what’s scheduled next.

What’s underway 

Work on the Benson Road Bridge just east of Minnesota Avenue passed an important milestone in May. The bridge deck (surfacing) removals were completed, and work now has transitioned into constructing the falsework for the new bridge deck.

Falsework is a temporary support system that will be used to hold the new bridge deck (surfacing) in place during its construction. Installation of the falsework is expected to take about two months.

After the falsework is completed, concrete placement for the new bridge deck will take place. This project is expected to be open to traffic in late November of 2024, but all work will not be complete until the spring of 2025.

Work on South Veterans Parkway also passed some important milestones in May. The intersection of 95^th Street and Western Avenue closed right after Memorial Day so a roundabout can be constructed at this intersection.

The roundabout is expected to be open before school starts in the fall, but the remainder of Western Avenue between 95^th Street and Highway 106 will remain closed until November.

Work at the intersection of South Veterans Parkway and Minnesota Avenue transitioned from the west side of the road to the east side of the road right after Memorial Day as well. Traffic on Minnesota Avenue will be reduced to one lane in each direction for another month or so before all lanes on Minnesota Avenue are reopened.

Storm drainage and other underground utility work continues along Western Avenue south of 95^th Street.

The bridge structure and surfacing over 85^th Street just east of Minnesota Avenue is substantially complete, with crews currently working on the approaches to prepare for paving on either side of the bridge later this summer.

All work is expected to be complete later this fall.

Bahnson Avenue closed on May 30 between 60th Street North and Benson Road to allow crews to perform asphalt repairs. Traffic should use Sycamore Avenue as an alternate route. This work is expected to be complete in about one week.

What’s next

Beginning on June 3:

90th Street will be closed on the west side of Louise Avenue to allow crews from XCEL Energy to install new electric facilities. Traffic should use 85^th Street or 93^rd Street as an alternate route. This work is expected to be complete in about two weeks. The overall work in the area is expected to be complete in August.

Northbound traffic on Louise Avenue will be reduced to one lane at 85th Street to allow crews from Xcel Energy to install new electric facilities. One lane of southbound traffic will be shifted to the northbound side, and the southbound traffic lanes will be closed south of 85^th Street. This work is expected to be complete in August.