Highway 169 On-Ramp Closes Temporarily

The Bren Road/Highway 169 interchange in Minnetonka is undergoing major changes. And as part of the renovation, the southbound Highway 169 entrance ramp from Bren Road closed at 6 a.m. June 9, and will remain closed through 6 a.m. Thursday, June 16.

The northbound Highway 169 entrance ramp from Bren Road re-opened June 8, about 16 hours ahead of schedule. That ramp had been closed since June 2. This means that both Highway 169 ramps north of the Bren Road bridge are now open—but not for long. 

The northbound Highway 169 exit ramp to Bren Road will also close. It was originally slated to close for seven days starting June 11, but this closure has been delayed to June 13, re-opening June 20.

The right lanes of both northbound and southbound Highway 169 from County Road 62 to 5th Street/Lincoln Drive will be closed from 7 p.m. Monday, June 13, through 5 a.m. Tuesday, June 14. This closure is necessary to remove concrete barrier and install barrels in preparation for shoulder widening.

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. 

Demolition of the Bren Road bridge over Highway 169 is currently planned for the end of June. Specific dates will be provided by the city within the next few weeks as they are dependent on weather. Bridge replacement is scheduled to be done by October 1.

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. 

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