Woodbury advances $30 million water infrastructure work; $20 million from 3M settlement to help fund new treatment plant

At its Feb. 12 meeting the Woodbury City Council approved consent-agenda items that move forward an approximately $30 million set of actions to construct a new water treatment plant and associated pipeline work to meet drinking-water regulations.

Mayor W. Burt told the council that roughly $20 million of the work will be funded from state-distributed funds related to the 3M settlement. "These actions are worth approximately $30,000,000 with $20,000,000 coming from the state's settlement money from 3M," the mayor said. City officials said the new water treatment plant will be built south of Harkers Parkway near Eastridge High School.

To treat the city's full supply, staff said the project requires linking existing wells to the new plant with roughly 17 miles of new water main to be installed through existing roadway corridors over the next three years. Construction will require lane and trail closures and is expected to be disruptive at times; staff asked residents to attend an open house planned for Wednesday, March 19 from 5 to 7 p.m. at City Hall to learn more and speak with project staff.

Project staff identified major 2025 work zones including Radio Drive, Valley Creek Road, Bailey Road, Cottage Grove Drive, Settlers Ridge Parkway, Interlochen Parkway and Pioneer Drive and said they will provide regular email and text updates via the city's InTouch notification system. The council moved the consent agenda items by a roll-call vote; the consent motion passed.

Staff said most of the plant and pipeline work is being funded with grants and state-distributed settlement funds and that final project phases and timelines will be developed as construction proceeds.