Minnetonka Boulevard Sewer Project

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The City of Minnetonka will install a secondary forcemain (pressure sewer pipe) along Minnetonka Boulevard and Minnetonka Drive in 2018 and 2019. The project runs east along Minnetonka Drive from Williston Road to Elm Lane, and continues east along Minnetonka Boulevard from Elm Lane to Guilliams Field. View a detailed map of the project area.

The project began in April 2018 and was completed by late fall except for one area (Minnetonka Drive from Williston Road to Park Valley Road) that will be finished in 2019. Large boulders were discovered in several areas, which required a new installation strategy.

Project background

The addition of a secondary sewer forcemain will allow for waste flow to be diverted to a secondary pipe during needed maintenance on the original forcemain, and it will also improve safety and ensure the flow of waste in the event of an emergency.

Project updates

Nov. 1, 2019 update

Oct. 18, 2019 update

Pipe installation is complete along Minnetonka Drive, and the road will be reconstructed Oct. 21-31, weather permitting.
During road reconstruction, Minnetonka Drive will be closed between Williston Road and Park Valley Road. We expect to re-open Minnetonka Drive between Williston Road and Westmark Drive on Oct. 24, with the remainder scheduled to re-open Oct. 31. This schedule is weather-dependent and subject to change. Please follow posted detour signs and drive carefully near construction.
Residents will always have access to their homes with the exception of a few hours on one day. The city will directly notify impacted residents beforehand.
Williston Fitness Center will not be accessible via Minnetonka Drive. Members should use Westmark Drive via Orchard Road.
Landings of Minnetonka senior living will not be accessible from the east. There will be one lane of access from the west between Westmark Drive and the property’s driveway.

Aug. 20, 2019 update

Traffic control and detour signs will be set up on Thursday, Aug. 22 to begin the final phase of construction.

The project is expected to be completed on Oct. 18, 2019. The schedule is weather-dependent and subject to change.

Minnetonka Drive Detour

Minnetonka Drive will be closed between Williston Road and Park Valley Road. Please follow posted detour signs and drive carefully near construction.
Residents will always have access to their homes with the exception of a few hours on one day. The city will directly notify impacted residents beforehand.
Williston Fitness Center will not be accessible via Minnetonka Drive. Members should use Westmark Drive via Orchard Road.
Landings of Minnetonka senior living will not be accessible from the east. There will be one lane of access from the west between Westmark Drive and the property’s driveway.

July 12, 2019 update

Installation of the final section – Minnetonka Drive from Williston Road to Park Valley Road – of the new secondary sewer main is about to begin. Crews will begin delivering pipe to the site on Saturday, July 13.

The city has hired a contractor to develop a strategy to avoid the large boulders in the project area and complete this final section. The contractor is expected to begin fusing the pipe on July 23 and begin putting it in the ground on July 29.

The remaining work is expected to last approximately six weeks. The schedule is weather-dependent and subject to change.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

Nov. 5, 2018 update

Installation of the secondary sewer main on Minnetonka Drive between Baker Road and Elm Lane is complete.

Crews will conclude this year’s work with soil boring to help plan a new installation strategy for the remainder of the project, which has been postponed until spring 2019 due to the discovery of large boulders. The final construction – Minnetonka Drive from Williston Road to Park Valley Road – is estimated to last 2-3 months.

Once this fall’s work is complete, all materials and equipment will be removed from the site until work resumes next spring.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

Oct. 8, 2018 update

The Minnetonka Boulevard Sewer Project will resume this week to complete the installation of the secondary sewer main on Minnetonka Drive between Baker Road and Elm Lane. This is anticipated to take two weeks, weather permitting.

The remainder of the project – Minnetonka Drive from Williston Road to Park Valley Road – will be suspended until next spring (2019) due to the discovery of large boulders, which require a new installation strategy.

Crews will conduct additional soil inspection this fall to assist with development of a new plan for the spring. When work resumes, it’s expected to last approximately two months.

Once this fall’s work is complete, all materials and equipment will be removed from the site until work begins next spring.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

Sept. 14, 2018 update

The Minnetonka Boulevard Sewer Project is complete, except for an area on Minnetonka Drive and a small section east of Baker Road on Minnetonka Boulevard. Construction on the Minnetonka Drive portion of the project will resume Monday, Sept. 17. The work involves directionally-drilling a new 12-inch forcemain pipe from Williston Road east to Baker Road. This work will require the occasional closing of one lane, but flagging will take place to accommodate traffic. Two-way traffic will be allowed to pass during drilling operations.

The city will frequently sweep the road to limit dust and debris during construction. Pipe will be placed along the edge of the roadway, however, this will not impede traffic. Construction vehicles will be on the road intermittently.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

Aug. 20, 2018 update

The Minnetonka Boulevard Sewer Project is complete, except for an area on Minnetonka Drive (west of Park Valley Road) and a small section east of Baker Road on Minnetonka Boulevard. Completion of the project will be on hold for approximately one month due to a conflict in the contractor’s schedule.

Work is expected to resume the week of September 17. The remainder of the project is expected to last five weeks.

When work resumes, the city will frequently sweep the road to limit dust in the area. Crews will remove equipment – except the new sewer pipe on the north side of the road – from the site until work is ready to resume.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

July 9, 2018 update

May 31, 2018 update

Minnetonka Boulevard Road Closure: June 4 - 8

The Minnetonka Boulevard Sewer Project will require the closure of Minnetonka Boulevard (County Road 5) between Shady Oak Road and Hopkins Crossroad beginning Monday, June 4. The closure is anticipated to last up to five days.

Traffic will be detoured north to Cedar Lake Road in both directions. Please follow posted detour signs and drive carefully during construction.

In this area, the sewer line is unable to be installed via directional drilling, so a closure is necessary to open-cut the area and install the line.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

May 17, 2018 update

Minnetonka Drive Road Closures Begin May 21

Construction of the secondary forcemain along Minnetonka Drive will require intermittent road closures to through traffic beginning Monday, May 21 and estimated to last for the duration of the project.

Drivers will be detoured to Minnetonka Boulevard from Williston Road and Baker Road during the closures. Please follow posted detour signs and drive carefully during construction.

Williston Fitness Center and all properties along Minnetonka Drive will still be accessible throughout the project. Access to Williston will typically be from the west via Williston Road, but if work requires closure of that segment, access will be available from the east via Baker Road.

Installation process

Crews will use directional drilling to install the secondary pipe along the route of the existing forcemain throughout most of the project area. The final stretch of Minnetonka Drive will require open-cut drilling.

What to expect and project impacts

There will not be any disruptions to sewer service.
The project may not require full road closures of Minnetonka Boulevard, and will not impact trail use or access. The final phase will require full closure of Minnetonka Drive. See project updates for more information.
There will be construction in the right-of-way and temporary lane closures and shifts. Please plan accordingly for delays.
Work will be conducted during business hours, Monday-Friday.
Residents will see construction equipment, signs and barricades along the road, but access will be maintained.

Contact information

Tom Pletcher, Water and Sewer Utilities Field Supervisor, 952-988-8427
Mike Kuno, Utility Operations Engineer, 952-988-8410
Minnetonka Public Works, 952-988-8400

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