Traffic Alert: Work Starts Along Woodland Road

Starting today, crews will be replacing the existing retaining walls along Woodland Road, just south of Highway 7. The work should be completed by early August.

According to the city, the existing wooden retaining walls along the west side of Woodland Road were heavily deteriorated and need to be replaced. These walls hold back a steep slope, and have little separation from the existing roadway.

During official discussions in advance of the project’s start, Minnetonka City Council member Amber Greves said that she drives through the Highway 7/Woodland Road intersection multiple times each day and it seems like a “dangerous intersection.”

City officials said that while only a few car accidents at the intersection have been reported, residents have seen a number of close calls.

To address the safety concerns of the intersection, as part of the changes, the hill along Woodland Road will be reduced significantly with an even grade from the top of the new wall to the top of the slope. Also, the new retaining wall will be pushed back from the road by 15-20 feet.  

According to a city official, the project will "improve sight distance" and “open up the corner and provide an area for snow storage and safety for pedestrians.”

Tree removal work was completed a few weeks ago in order to relieve pressure on the existing walls. The city intentionally delayed the start of the retaining wall construction until now in order to allow time for the soils to dry out after all the spring rain we received. After the new retaining wall system is constructed and the slope is established with turf, the city will begin re-planting trees on the sloped area.

There will occasionally be flaggers on Woodland Road to control traffic during construction. Full access should be restored at the end of each day. The contractor will have traffic control signing in place during construction, indicating the access status along Woodland Road.

According to the city, the project has also been designed to accommodate a future realignment of the Highway 7 and Woodland/Tonkawood Roads intersection.

The total estimated construction cost for the project, including engineering, administration, landscaping and contingency is $235,600.

For more information visit the city website: http://www.eminnetonka.com