Vernon Avenue bridge over Highway 100 opening by mid-November
The Edina City Council heard an update on a major infrastructure project that will largely wrap up this construction season by mid-November, though a second bridge component has been delayed to summer 2026 due to an unexpected underground power line.
The Vernon Avenue and Highway 100 interchange project is on track to complete most of its work before winter weather sets in, according to an update presented to the council. The project, a partnership between the City of Edina, Hennepin County, and the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), will reopen a new bridge and ramps by mid-November, restoring access to West 50th Street and improving traffic flow in the area.
However, the project has hit a snag that will push back completion of a second bridge. A bridge carrying Vernon Avenue over the CPKC Railroad will not be finished until summer 2026. The delay stems from a buried power line that was not accurately shown on either the original construction plans or utility maps provided by Excel Energy, the utility company responsible for the line.
Once the power line was discovered during construction, the project required extensive coordination with Excel Energy and the railroad to safely relocate the line through railroad property. This coordination process necessitated additional permits before work could proceed. The unforeseen issue demonstrates how underground utilities can complicate even well-planned infrastructure projects.
The council also heard that the project includes intersection improvements in the nearby Grand View District as part of the broader effort to improve traffic and connectivity in the area. While no votes were recorded in the available meeting data, the update appears to have been informational, keeping council members and the public apprised of progress on one of the city's significant infrastructure undertakings.
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