Much to the relief of Wayzata residents, visitors, guests, business, and other stakeholders, the 101 / Central Avenue Bridge is set to re-open this weekend.
According to MN Dot Spokesman David Aekins, the bridge redecking project cost approximately $4 million. Of that amount Hennepin County is contributing approximately $1.9 million.
Aekins also indicated the bridge was originally built in 1970 and that safety and traffic improvements include: left turn lanes, wider sidewalks, a higher railing, and a new concrete deck.
Crews may finish their work on Saturday, but the official opening is scheduled for Sunday November 17th, 2019. Stay tuned to Wayzata.com, your Wayzata road construction news leader.
Pictured (L-R) are Tom Pabst, Bushaway resident volunteer, Manuel Jordan, Certified Arborist, and Greg Brown, URS Engineer. Image courtesy City of Wayzata website.
The City of Wayzata is reporting via it’s website: “As the reconstruction along County Road 101/Bushaway Road progresses, there is work being done on the corridor to preserve the trees. The URS Engineer along with the Arborist for the project is getting assistance from Bushaway resident volunteers to place yellow “caution/cuido” tape on trees to save. Trees closest to the construction area are being marked to preserve as much of the beautiful canopy as possible for Historic Bushaway Road.”
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As of TODAY, the Bushaway Road causeway at Gray’s Bay is closed to ALL TRAFFIC. This closure will be in effect until May 2015 or later.
Bushaway residences north of the causeway will only be reachable from the North using Eastman Lane or McGinty Road. Highway 101 residents south of the causeway will need to use the detour from Minnetonka Boulevard.
Access to remove boats from the Gray’s Bay Marina and for fishing remains open from Minnetonka Boulevard. There will be no interference with boats in the water. Ice fishing access from the causeway parking lot will be open this winter from Minnetonka Boulevard.
The railroad bridge is currently being dismantled. Other construction activity includes grading and storm sewer work on McGinty Road, and sanitary sewer and watermain installation on Eastman Lane. Eastman Lane will remain open to local access.
Remember, construction barriers are in place to protect you. Please do not cross work barriers at any time.
Wayzata Police continue to enforce “local traffic only.”
There is one final event at the Yacht Club this weekend so please expect traffic along Eastman Lane.
Reminder: Bicycles are vehicles and must obey all road closure signs. Safety reminder
Please drive slowly and safely to protect yourself, your vehicle and construction personnel.
Hennepin County will reconstruct County Road 101 (Bushaway Road) in Minnetonka, Woodland and Wayzata. The project extends from north of Minnetonka Boulevard (County Road 5) to US Highway 12 at Wayzata Boulevard. The project is slated to begin mid-September 2014 and is expected to be finished by fall 2016.
Eastman Lane and McGinty Road (Wayzata)
Eastman Lane and McGinty Road in Wayzata will be closed to traffic with only local access permitted on Thursday, September 25. McGinty Road is anticipated to reopen later this fall with Eastman Lane reopening in early spring 2015. Advance notice signs have been placed in the area and a signed detour will be provided.
Closure from Minnetonka Boulevard to U.S. Highway 12
It is anticipated that County Road 101 from Minnetonka Boulevard in Minnetonka to U.S. Highway 12 in Wayzata will be closed to vehicle thru traffic starting in October. This closure will remain for the duration of this project. Advance warning signs will be placed and a signed detour provided.
You can find the detour maps under closures and detours on the project webpage.
As part of the project, crews will begin clearing trees and other vegetation per the approved construction plans. Next, utility work will begin followed by the reconstruction of the road.
Grading of roundabout in Minnetonka
The contractor will begin grading the 90 degree curve of County Road 101 located just north of Minnetonka Boulevard at Breezy Point Curve and McKenzie Point Road, in preparation for installation of a roundabout. This work will also begin shortly after September 22. County Road 101 will remain open at this location during the start of this grading work.
Intermittent utility relocation work can be expected throughout the project corridor. Private utility companies will provide advance notice signs in areas of their work.
Railroad bridge
The bridge over the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, north of McGinty Road in Wayzata, is currently open and work will begin in this area at a later date.
Gray’s Bay Marina and boat launch in Minnetonka
Throughout this reconstruction project, access will be maintained to the Gray’s Bay Marina slips and boat launch, although detours may be required to reach the marina. Updates will be provided as needed to slip holders and to launch users, as access may change on a regular basis as work proceeds.
The road reconstruction project for Hennepin County Road 101 (Bushaway Road) in Minnetonka, Woodland and Wayzata begins Thursday, September 25, 2014. At that time, Eastman Lane and McGinty Road in Wayzata will be closed to traffic with only local access permitted. During this initial phase of the construction, County Road 101 from Minnetonka Boulevard to U.S. Highway 12 will remain open. Work will also begin on the grading of County Road 101 just north of Minnetonka Boulevard at Breezy Point Curve and McKenzie Point Road in preparation for the installation of a roundabout. County Road 101 will remain open in this area during the start of this grading work.
As part of the project, crews will begin clearing trees and other vegetation per the approved construction plans. Next, utility work will begin followed by the reconstruction of the road. County Road 101 (Bushaway Road) reconstruction is designed to address safety concerns. The new road will accommodate increased traffic and replace the aging roadway and infrastructure. Segments will be closed during different stages of construction. Completion is scheduled for 2016.
Drivers are reminded at all times to proceed with caution through all construction areas. For more information, visit www.hennepin.us/countyroad101, email countyroad101@hennepin.us or call the project information line at 1-866-981-1101.
The Bushaway Road/County Road 101 Pre-Construction Open House is scheduled for September 16th 5-6:30 p.m. in the Community Room at City Hall.
Once the construction begins, updates of the project work details can be sent to you directly via email or text message by signing up at www.hennepin.us/countyroad101 and click the link labeled “sign up for project updates” to enter in your contact information.
The Wayzata City Council passed a Comprehensive Plan Text amendment 5-0 designating Bushaway Road as a Scenic Byway.
The move is another step on behalf of the City and the Bushaway Neighborhood Task Force to disrupt and control the Hennepin County plans to rebuild the stretch of road which is also County Road 101. The County plans call for a substantially larger road, with left and right turning lanes, center turning lanes, bike trails, and a substantially larger footprint that may impact property owners in terms of their gates, fences, trees, and the like.
One of the proposals from Hennepin County — in this case a roundabout at Bushaway Road and McGinty.
The Comp Plan amendment will now go before neighboring jurisdictions for 60 days for review and comment, and then before the Metropolitan Council–who will have 120 days to review, comment and approve the amendment.
“This captures the spirit of Bushway Road, and the message that we are trying to pass along to Hennepin County,” indicated Mayor Ken Willcox.
Nick Peterson, P.E., Project Manager for Hennepin County did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
Stay tuned to Wayzata.com, your City of Wayzata puts a thumb in the eye of Hennepin County, leader.
It’s been a couple of months without a water main break on Bushaway, so we were due. Be careful out there as traffic is being rerouted while the City of Wayzata does some repairs in between McGinty Road and Minnetonka Boulevard. A detour will be posted, and the repairs are expected to be completed by tomorrow.
In a story that can be republished over and over again, a water main on Bushaway in Wayzata broke today and caused a detour of Henneping County Road 101. According to a Star Tribune article, the road will be closed from McGinty to Minnetonka Blvd until Tuesday.
Local resident and Allstate Insurance representative Jim Harper indicated that this seems to happen all the time on Bushaway. Harper also marveled at the age of the pipes that must be underneath Bushaway.
Stay tuned to Wayzata.com, your broken water main on Bushaway Road leader.
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