Woodbury details 2026 neighborhood road-rehab plan, warns of short-term driveway and access impacts

City of Woodbury engineers on Monday outlined the scope, phasing and resident impacts for the 2026 neighborhood road rehabilitation project, which will include full-depth pavement replacement, spot and longer-segment curb replacement, trail upgrades and localized water and sewer work.

The project team — Assistant City Engineer Mike Ka and consultant Jeff Tuchant — said work is expected to start the week following this meeting and will be phased from the north side of the project area (Afton Road) south through Havenwood Circle and Boulder Ridge. Most phases that do not require extensive utility work are expected to take roughly six weeks; areas with utility replacement may require up to about 10 weeks, staff said.

Why it matters: the project will alter driveway access at short intervals, change where mail is delivered in some locations and may require brief water shutoffs or lane restrictions. "We send out weekly at least weekly notifications on on what the status is and more if something significant changes," Mike Ka said, urging residents to sign up for the city's InTouch updates. Staff said door-hanger notices will also be distributed immediately before work in each phase and the project hotline will connect residents to the field representative for on-site resolution.

Scope and homeowner options The scope includes replacement of pavement, selected curb and gutter work, replacement or installation of public trails (including a trail extension on Afton Road), upgrades to pedestrian ramps and targeted storm-drain work. Staff said drain pipes will be installed in locations where residents have experienced basement or yard drainage problems so homeowners can connect existing sump pumps. Consultant Jeff Tuchant described two connection options: an overground tie into a cap flush with the surface or a buried connection about two to three feet deep behind the curb. "If you see those get removed, you can call that project hotline just to let us know and we'll make sure we get new ones installed," Tuchant said, referring to wooden reference stakes used by crews.

Driveways, mail and private features Crew procedures will vary by location. Concrete driveways damaged by curb replacement will be removed and replaced; asphalt driveways near curb panels often require a full-width saw cut and a patch. When full curb replacement impacts a mailbox, the contractor will remove and reinstall the mailbox or provide a temporary mailbox location. Staff emphasized that private irrigation systems, dog fences or other private features within the public right-of-way are the property owner's responsibility to move and repair; contractors will not replace those items.

Construction schedule and daily impacts Work hours are expected to be roughly 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with occasional short extensions for equipment warm-up or wrap-up; crews may work Saturdays but not Sundays or holidays. Several safety and timing notes: water shutoffs for water-main work are typically eight hours or less with about 48 hours' notice; paving operations usually require one to two days per phase and residents should avoid driving on tack oil used before final paving. Staff warned that large pavement-removal trucks move at walking pace but have blind spots and urged parents to supervise children near work zones.

Restoration and contractor responsibilities After initial pavement work contractors will place topsoil, seed and hydromulch; contractors are responsible for achieving about 70% vegetative coverage within roughly 45 days and must re-seed failing areas. Homeowners may opt to install sod at their own cost; staff said they can coordinate with the hotline so the contractor leaves the topsoil at an appropriate elevation for sod placement.

Other nearby work Staff also warned that several other infrastructure projects (Bailey Road closures, Woodlane Drive work, a fiber project and water-treatment pipeline activity) will increase summer construction in and near Woodbury, possibly affecting detours and traffic on nearby corridors.

Next steps Staff encouraged residents to sign up for InTouch for weekly updates, watch the recorded presentation if they could not attend, and speak with staff at the open-house portion of the meeting for property-specific questions. The city provided a project hotline and the Engineering Department phone number for further inquiries.