Sorensen Neighborhood

Highway 7/Wooddale Avenue intersection reconstruction

Jun 19, 2007

The City of St. Louis Park is in the early stages of developing design concepts and completing an environmental investigation for the reconstruction of the Trunk Highway (TH) 7/Wooddale Avenue intersection as a grade??‘separated interchange, along with improvements to the local roadways in the immediate area. The proposed grade separated intersection project is intended to alleviate congestion and delays while improving vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian mobility in the project area. The project will be designed to accommodate future LRT, trail needs, rail operations, and access to property. Two concepts have been developed to date; design efforts are continuing to work toward the best solution for the intersection and connecting roadways.

TH 7/Wooddale Avenue Project Information:
Project Need.
The proposed project is needed to (1) provide improved travel with fewer conflicting turn movements, (2) improve pedestrian and bicycle travel, and (3) alleviate congestion that is causing commuter delays and back-ups on local streets.

Project Background. In 2006 the City conducted an areawide traffic study that documented the need for improvements in the project area. The City of St. Louis Park has recently secured federal funding to help with expected project costs.
Current Activities. The project team is developing concept alternatives and conducting additional traffic analysis and environmental investigation. The outcome of this effort will be a concept design to carry forward toward approval and implementation.

Future Activities. Detailed design and a formal Environmental Assessment (required under state and federal laws) will be completed once a design concept has been selected. Acquisition of any required right of way is expected to occur in 2008 with construction in 2009 or later.
Public Involvement. A public information meeting was held June 5, 2007 and additional public information meetings will be scheduled later this summer, as well as in 2008 during the formal Environmental Assessment process. Project updates will be posted on this website.


* Identified Project Considerations include:
Safety
Congestion
Travel time
Walkability/bikeability
Neighborhood quality
Loss of property
Relocation of businesses
Aesthetics
Noise
Cost
Property values
Fairness
Effect on property owners
* Identified Project Stakeholders include:
Property owners
Elmwood Neighborhood
Sorenson Neighborhood
School and student families
Trail users
City residents
Business community
Mn/DOT
Metro Transit
Hennepin County Regional Rail Authority
CP Rail, TC& W Railroad
Drivers/bikers/pedestrians
Federal HIghway Administration
Three Rivers Park District

Comments?
Please fill out the form on the web site:
http://www.stlouispark.org/about/construction_updates.htm#2134 by June 19 and mail to:

Matt Meyer
SRF Consulting Group, Inc.
One Carlson Parkway North
Plymouth, MN 55447