Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure Construction topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Woodbury officials outline water treatment construction, warn of I-94 ramp closure Aug. 4–mid‑October
Summary
City engineering staff updated the City Council on multiple summer construction projects centered on the Woodbury Water Treatment Plant and pipelines, and said MnDOT will close the eastbound I‑94 ramp to Radio Drive starting Aug. 4 with crews expecting to reopen it in mid‑October, creating detours and heavier traffic on Woodbury Drive.
City engineering staff told the City of Woodbury City Council on July 30 that major construction tied to the Woodbury Water Treatment Plant and associated pipeline work will continue into the fall and that a separate Minnesota Department of Transportation project will close the eastbound Interstate 94 exit to Radio Drive beginning Aug. 4, 2025.
The update, delivered by Chris Hartzell, the city’s engineering director, described active construction zones across the city — including water main installation on Valley Creek Road, work on Pioneer Drive and Interlochen Parkway near Lake Middle School, and rehabilitation phases of the 2025 Road Rehab Project. Hartzell said, “All areas shown in orange are under construction this summer,” and urged residents to consult the project web page and InTouch email subscription for details.
The council heard specific local impacts: Interlochen Parkway at the north end of Pioneer Drive near Lake Middle School will reopen to traffic “prior to Labor Day,” Hartzell said, while work south of the roundabout will remain under construction through the end of the summer. He said about three‑quarters of the water main on Valley Creek Road between Tower Drive and Interlochen has been installed and that contractors will return after Labor Day to place the last quarter of the main.
Hartzell also relayed MnDOT’s notice that crews will close the eastbound I‑94 ramp to Radio Drive beginning at 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 4, weather permitting, to replace traffic signals and improve ADA ramps. “Motorists will be directed to use Woodbury Drive exit as their detour,” Hartzell said, and crews are “expecting to reopen the ramp in mid October.” Council members warned that detours will push traffic onto Woodbury Drive and Hudson Road and said they expect complaints from businesses and residents.
Council members asked how school access would be maintained at Lake Middle School with nearby closures. Hartzell said staff had worked with the school district “to make sure they're up and operational by the time school starts,” and that temporary detour and drop‑off routes would be used. On Valley Creek Road, Hartzell described a pressure testing issue on a recently installed segment and said the contractor had to replace a valve before the westbound portion can be fully reopened; if the test fails, the city and Washington County will coordinate next steps.
The engineering director outlined other projects underway: Bailey Road Water Tower work; Dale Road improvements including a roundabout at Chestnut Drive and trail construction; Tamarack Road curb and trail reconstruction; and the Woodlane Drive trail segment required as part of the Gold Line‑related development agreement. He said some projects are federally funded and subject to grant deadlines, and that scheduling has been adjusted in some cases to coordinate with the water treatment work.
The council and staff emphasized that rain and material supply problems — particularly long lead times for large‑diameter pipeline materials — have caused schedule changes and that most paving and restoration work is expected to be completed before winter. Council members urged more public communication about the MnDOT ramp closure and other detours.
No formal council action was taken on the transportation report; it was presented as information and staff asked residents to sign up for InTouch updates and visit the project web pages for maps and timelines.
