Edina City Council — Transcript
Sunday, August 24, 2025
Fernon Avenue and Highway 100 Interchange Project - Meeting 11 Status Update
Excel Power Line Relocation Delay
Interlockan and Vernon Intersection Construction
Traffic Management and Ramp Configuration
Highway 100 Lane Closure (77th to 50th Street) - MDOT Project
50th and Graange Intersection Water Main Installation
Upcoming Ramp Closures and Bridge Beam Setting
5100 Eden Avenue Redevelopment (Opus Project)
Bridge Design - Single Span vs. Pier Configuration
Noise Wall Installation and Height
Project Completion Timeline and Excel Permit Contingency
Traffic Control on Eden Avenue During School Year
Business Accessibility and Community Support
Pedestrian Safety and Crosswalk Usage
Unofficial Trail Access on Railroad Property
Votes (15)
Project Goals and Timeline Overview
Derek Houston reviewed the core project objectives including improved safety and mobility for all users, separate pedestrian routes, improved traffic operations, consolidation of Highway 100 access points, enhanced connectivity between residential and commercial areas, and improved viability with better access. The project encompasses the Interlockan and Vernon intersection, railroad crossing, Highway 100 ramps, and Green Road area.
Excel Power Line Relocation - Critical Project Delay
Derek Houston reported that the Excel power line relocation from overhead to buried configuration remains a major bottleneck. Excel, the railroad, and permitting agencies are communicating, but no state permit has been issued. This delay is causing significant impacts to both project schedule and cost. The project team is actively pushing for resolution but has limited direct control over the permitting process between Excel and the railroad.
Interlockan and Vernon Intersection Construction Status
The intersection is largely complete with concrete median poured and traffic flowing as designed. Separate eastbound and westbound lanes on Vernon Avenue maintain free-flowing turns. Construction photographs show substantial completion of abutment work, retaining walls, and backfill operations. The project is progressing on schedule in this area.
Traffic Management - Benton Avenue Ramp Meter Adjustments
Community concerns about traffic backup on Benton Avenue have prompted two meter capacity increases in two weeks. MDOT was contacted to increase the meter again on the day of the meeting. With school starting the following week, the project team committed to continued monitoring and potential adjustments. The team acknowledged the necessity of traffic impacts during construction while seeking to minimize neighborhood disruption.
Highway 100 Lane Closure (77th-50th Street) - MDOT Project Clarification
Derek Houston clarified that the Highway 100 lane closure between 77th and 50th Street is a separate MDOT project unrelated to the Vernon interchange work. The closure is for overhead sign work requiring center lane closure both northbound and southbound. The project is anticipated to continue until September 3rd. Lane closure costs are a factor in MDOT's decision to maintain continuous closure rather than daily opening/closing.
50th and Graange Intersection Water Main Installation
A temporary closure of the 50th and Graange intersection is scheduled for Wednesday through Friday of the current week to accommodate installation of a new water main under Highway 100. The installation uses directional bore technology with HDP casing laid from the intersection past City Hall. Traffic is diverted via Eden Avenue. City Hall remains accessible via Eden Avenue or Graange entrances. Normal operations resume after Friday.
Upcoming Ramp Closures and Bridge Girder Setting
Northbound and southbound off-ramp closures are planned for either September 8th or 15th (date pending contractor confirmation). The project team expects significant traffic diversion, including to Benton Avenue, and will continue monitoring. The southbound on-ramp will remain open. In the first week of September, night work will involve setting bridge girders over two nights for northbound and two nights for southbound, requiring regional detour via Highway 169 to 394 and 62.
Bridge Design - Single Span Configuration
In response to a community question about bridge support structure, Derek Houston clarified that the new Vernon Avenue bridge over Highway 100 will be a single-span design with abutments on each side and no center pier. The railroad bridge will similarly use abutments on each side with beams spanning across to support the deck.
Noise Wall Installation and Height Specifications
Steel dowels have been installed on retaining walls as reinforcement for upcoming noise wall construction. The noise wall is expected to reach approximately 15 feet in height above the steel dowels. Installation is progressing along the Hawthorne Court Apartments area and will continue toward 50th Street and City Hall. Visual documentation shows substantial progress on retaining wall construction.
Traffic Control on Eden Avenue - Community Concerns and Monitoring
Community members raised concerns about increasing traffic backup on Eden Avenue, particularly with school starting. Derek Houston acknowledged the concerns and indicated that the project team is monitoring the situation closely and will take a deeper look with school starting. Manual traffic control and roundabout control adjustments are being considered but no definitive plan has been announced. The team requested community input on potential solutions.
Business Accessibility and Community Support During Construction
Derek Houston highlighted that the Adana liquor store has reopened for business with newly installed bike racks, serving as an example of business accessibility during construction. A community member asked whether the city could provide marketing promotion efforts to encourage patronage of local businesses despite construction disruptions. Derek Houston indicated he would bring this suggestion to Chad and other city members but did not commit to a specific action.
Project Completion Timeline and Excel Permit Contingency
In response to a question about whether the project will finish in 2025 and what drop-dead date exists for Excel-CPKC agreement, Derek Houston stated that the project team wants to finish in 2025 and the contractor is committed to this goal. However, no formal drop-dead date has been established for the Excel permit resolution. The team indicated that once more information is available, they can evaluate options, but currently lacks sufficient information to set firm deadlines.
Pedestrian Safety and Crosswalk Recommendations
Derek Houston emphasized pedestrian safety by recommending use of the crosswalk at Vernon and Eden instead of the Eden midblock crossing due to heavy traffic. The project team requested that drivers stop for pedestrians in crosswalks and be courteous to fellow drivers. This reflects the project's goal of improving safety for all users.
Unofficial Trail Access on Railroad Property
A community member asked whether a covered pathway trail with trees leading north from the 49th/Brookside area toward Vernon Avenue Bridge would remain accessible after the new bridge completion. Derek Houston clarified that this trail is located on railroad property and is not officially sanctioned. Therefore, the city has no authority to guarantee continued access to this trail after bridge completion.
Traffic Light Configuration at 50th Street
In response to a question about whether the traffic light at Graange Road and 50th Street will be removed and whether one will be added where Highway 100 north exists on 50th, Derek Houston confirmed that the light at Graange will remain and that a light will be added at the on-ramps over that area.
Notable Quotes (19)
Improved safety and mobility for all users. Uh separate pedestrian routes, improve traffic operations, consolidate Highway 100 access points, uh improve connectivity between residential and commercial areas of the district, uh and enhance viability with improved access.
Long story short is there's not a whole lot of progress on this. Um, we know that Excel and the railroad and their permitting are communicating, but there's still no permit to the state. So, it is it is a major impact to the schedule and cost and it's something the project team is very concerned about.
We're going to keep moving forward and we're still pushing them, doing everything we can, but it's really between Excel and the railroad that we don't have much much we can do there.
The intersection at Interlockan and Vernon is largely done right now. Uh traffic is flowing about how was described on here. There's they poured back concrete median in this area. Um so right now on Vernon it's separated depending if you're going eastbound or westbound, but it's still a free flowing turn here.
We've been getting a lot of concerns about the traffic over at Benton Avenue. It's uh how a lot of people are getting on to northbound and we've heard your concerns and we are taking steps to address it. The Benton Avenue ramp. So there's a meter right here and we initially two weeks ago we updated it to increase the volume that it would allow onto the freeway. And we just call I talked to MDOT again this morning. They're going to up it again today.
Another topic we've been hearing a lot of about is the construction on Highway 100 between oops, I should say 77th and 50th Street. I just want to iterate that this is a Mindot project and it's not related to our work at the Vernon interchange. Uh they're doing some overhead sign work and they've reduced the lanes. They've taken the center lane out uh northbound and southbound.
One thing I did want to touch on is I know people are saying, you know, the lane is up, the lane closure is up all the time. Something to keep in mind is that it costs money every time you put it up and take it down. So, I'm sure that's one of their considerations in leaving it up.
This week we've got the 50th and Graange intersection closed right here and it's just for Wednesday through Friday this week. They're doing a big pull for the water man, new water man that's going under Highway 100. So this intersection is closed, but everyone can take the detour on Eden. If you're coming off the northbound ramp, you're just going to be funneled straight over to Eden to get where you're going. And you can see in this picture in the bottom right here, this is actually HDP casing that's laid out all the way past city hall that they're going to pull through with directional bore.
I think we alluded to this a little bit last time, but we're getting ready to do some more ramp work and ramp closures. Uh so we're still trying to nail down the date with the contractor, but it' be either September 8th or 15th is the tenative plan. That'd be closing the northbound off-ramp and the southbound off-ramp. Um, so we're expecting a lot of traffic to get diverted elsewhere, including Benton Avenue. We're going to continue to monitor that situation, see if there's anything we can do to improve it. Um, one thing to note is that the southbound ramp, southbound on-ramp will remain open. And coming up in the first week of September, there's some night work planned. Uh, they're going to be setting beams for the bridge. So, that's really exciting. Uh they're thinking they'll do northbound first. Uh so it take two nights for them to set the girders and then they'll switch over and do the southbound for another two nights. Uh it's notable that that'll be a regional detour where it'll go instead of going through Highway 100, you'll go 169 to 394 and 62.
So I'd say there's abutments on each side. Um, it's a single span. So if we're looking at this bridge here over 100, I think what you're getting at is this thing in the center is called a pier. And on the railroad bridge, there will not be a pier. So it'll just be an abupment on each side and then beams going across that will hold up the deck.
They've got on top of this these posts here are dowels for the noise wall. Um so that's steel reinforcement that will go up and beyond. I know you might want to look at these to get a a visual idea of how tall the noise wall will be. Um, just know that the noise wall will go taller than that. Probably about 15 feet, give or take, from the top of these these steel dowels.
Well, so I think you're probably getting at backups and traffic there. There's going to be a lot of traffic, unfortunately. Um, it's one of the necessary evils of having construction, but we all want nice roads. Uh, you know, if you have any ideas, we're we're all ears. We're monitoring it and we're going to be taking an extra deep look at it next week with school starting.
So, Bill's question about all the traffic on Eden and with school starting. Um, you know, it's something we're going to take a look at with schools starting and with the ramps closed. We're not totally sure how it's going to be impacted. Um, looking into manual control is something we will look at. Uh, but I don't have an answer on if that will happen. Um, we definitely say if you're traveling in the area, give yourself extra time and expect there to be traffic and please be patient.
Over here on the left. Just want to highlight the Adana liquor store again. Uh it's back open for business. We've got our bike racks installed there. Hope everyone goes and visits
Um, that's something I can bring up with Chad and other members of the city. Um, but I don't have an answer for that right now.
Um well, I'd say we're going to do everything we can to finish it this year. Uh that's what we want to do. Everybody does contractor included. I wouldn't say we have a drop dead date. Um it's once we have more information, that's when we can really evaluate our options, which unfortunately as I shared earlier, there's not a whole lot of an update.
Um, just a reminder, we recommend using the crosswalk at Vernon and Eden instead of the Eden midblock crossing. Could be safer when there's busy traffic.
Um, so I believe that's that's the trail I'm thinking of coming up from 49th and kind of Brookside area. Uh, that's not an officially sanctioned trail and that is on railroad property. So that is nothing the city can do about that.
So the light at range will remain and yes I believe one's added at the on-ramps over there.
Ordinances & Resolutions (6)
Ongoing project update meeting documenting construction progress, traffic management, and timeline for interchange reconstruction with goals of improved safety, mobility, separate pedestrian routes, and enhanced connectivity
State permit required for relocation of Excel power line from overhead to buried configuration; currently pending approval from Excel, railroad, and state permitting agencies
Separate MDOT project involving overhead sign work on Highway 100 between 77th and 50th Street with lane reductions; anticipated completion September 3rd
New water main installation under Highway 100 via directional bore; temporary intersection closure scheduled for mid-week with HDP casing laid for boring operation
Planned night work in first week of September for setting bridge beams; two nights for northbound girders, two nights for southbound girders with regional detour via Highway 169 to 394 and 62
Redevelopment project with jersey barriers, fencing, and temporary sidewalk detour; unrelated to interchange project