Lanes to Close Along Highway 169 in Minnetonka

The Bren Road/Highway 169 interchange in Minnetonka is undergoing major changes. And now transportation and city officials are warning local motorists about the first of several significant delays that will be caused by the project.  

Highway 169 between the Crosstown (Highway 62) and 5th St./Lincoln Drive will be reduced to one lane northbound and southbound overnight, from 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 13, through 5 a.m. Thursday, April 14. These closures will allow for placement of concrete barriers along the outside lanes, in preparation for work on the ramps.

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.

City officials warn that weather will play a major factor in the project, making the construction schedule somewhat “fluid.” That said, Minnetonka has put in place incentives and disincentives for contractors to help keep the project on track. Also, the city is working towards a comprehensive communication plan to alert residents about construction activities, roadway closures and detour routes.

While funding for the $20 million capital expansion project comes in part from the state and city, some businesses will also contribute under a new city financing mechanism. The system is based on the concept that businesses should pay their own costs for public road transportation. Properties that aren't increasing their building sizes won't pay for the project. According to city officials, this innovative plan will balance both the public and private benefits of better roads.

“We feel we have created a long-term partnership which provides expansion opportunity to many companies,” said Minnetonka Mayor Terry Schneider. “The city would have been unable to provide this equitable solution without leadership from businesses and cooperation from the state of Minnesota.”

On March 28, the Minnetonka City Council unanimously voted to award the $10.7 million construction bid for the Bren Road/Highway 169 interchange project to the Lunda Construction Company out of  Rosemount.

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
• See the sidebar photos/PDFs of this article