Highway 169 Ramps Close

The Bren Road/Highway 169 interchange in Minnetonka is undergoing major changes. And as part of the renovation, the Highway 169 ramps north of the bridge that lead to and from Bren Road are closing.

Starting today, the southbound Highway 169 ramp to Bren Road will be closed for seven days, re-opening June 7. Then, on June 2, the northbound Highway 169 ramp from Bren Road will be closed for seven days, re-opening June 9.

City officials hope that this staggered closure of the Highway 169 ramps will help facilitate construction activity. Motorists familiar with the area are encouraged to use Shady Oak Road to avoid the construction zone.

This closure is part of the construction project that will rebuild the Bren Road Bridge, which spans Highway 169, adding through lanes and turn lanes and upgrading new trails and sidewalks around the interchange. 

According to city officials, the project is intended to “relieve current congestion and accommodate the next 20 years of development in the Opus Park business park area.” Minnetonka is leading the project in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Transportation. 

Construction will likely bring frequent traffic changes and more short-term, intermittent ramp and lane closures on Highway 169—beyond the closures planned for this week. The Bren Road Bridge will be closed between June and September. Also in June, Highway 169 will be closed for one weekend as crews remove the Bren Road Bridge deck. 

The project should wrap up by November 2011, although landscaping will continue into 2012.

The construction will include: 

• Addition of a third left turn lane along Highway 169 northbound to Bren Road West.
• Addition of a third thru lane from Bren Road West to Green Oak Drive.
• Addition of double left turn lanes from Bren Road West onto Highway 169 southbound.
• Addition of a third thru lane along Bren Road East, which drops into a double left turn lane onto Highway 169 northbound.
• Addition of a second right turn lane along Bren Road East onto Highway169 southbound.
• Addition a trail on the north side of Bren Road West, between Green Circle Park and Smetana Drive.
• Addition of a sidewalk on the north side of Bren Road Between Smetana Drive and Lincoln Drive.
• Addition of a sidewalk on the south side of Bren Road East between the United Health Group property and Smetana Drive. 

For more information on the Hwy 169/Bren Road improvement project from the city of Minnetonka:

• Visit www.169bren.com
• Follow @169Bren on Twitter
• E-mail  169bren@eminnetonka.com
• Call 952-908-7099