Shorewood Minnesota

Phase 1 boulevard cleanup and restoration will continue as crews will begin grading boulevard areas for topsoil installation. Travel through Phase 1 will be limited to restricted at times while crews are onsite. Construction staff will be knocking on doors on a day-to-day basis to let residents know if they will need to park their cars outside of the construction zone for the day as driveways are being paved.

Due to a scheduling conflict, on Friday July 14^th Phase 2 watermain installation will begin near Eureka Road and continue west. Vehicle access will be restricted in the locations where the crews are working. Construction staff will help coordinate days when residents will have to stage their vehicles. 

Phase 2 driveway pavement removals will continue for the remainder of this week. Private residential contractors and residents will not be allowed to park equipment or vehicles on the roadway while construction crews are on site during pavement reclamation. Please do not park on the road during these construction activities. 

Phase 2 Residents: As many have seen from Phase 1, Phase 2 vehicle staging will be required at times for those of you who may need to leave throughout the day. Construction staff will help coordinate staging locations along Eureka Road and Grant Lorenz Road when crews are onsite during major excavation operations.

As we begin Phase 2 of the project, we ask that you please label your garbage cans with your address so that crews may move them to available pickup locations on a weekly basis. Also, please set your garbage cans out on Tuesday evenings so that construction staff can move cans to a pickup location. 

Stop signs have been placed at the intersection of Edgewood Road and Grant Lorenz Road. Please be aware of the temporary traffic change as it is for the safety of everyone living in the neighborhood.

Please utilize Grant Lorenz Road for neighborhood access if you live west of Eureka Road.

Package delivery drivers will be unable to access homes on Phase 2 of the project during working hours. If you live on Phase 2 of the project and have packages being delivered, please send packages to City Hall for the security of your items. The address for City Hall is listed below:

Shorewood City Hall

5755 Country Club Rd

Shorewood, MN 55331

There is no construction activity scheduled to take place this weekend.

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Phase 1 boulevard cleanup and restoration will continue as crews will begin grading boulevard areas for topsoil installation. Travel through Phase 1 will be limited to restricted at times while crews are on site. Construction staff will be knocking on doors on a day-to-day basis to let residents know if they will need to park their cars outside of the construction zone for the day as driveways are being paved.

Remaining Phase 1 and Phase 2 tree removals should be completed by today, Friday, July 7th. As mentioned previously, please avoid travel in the area if tree clearing crews are on site. Silt fence and erosion control items will also be installed for the Phase 2 area. The remaining stump grinding is scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 8th.

Phase 2 watermain installation will begin near Eureka Road and continue west. Vehicle access will be restricted in the locations where the crews are working. Construction Staff will help coordinate days when residents will have to stage their vehicles. 

Phase 2 driveway pavement will be removed (to the right-of-way). Private residential contractors and residents will not be allowed to park equipment or vehicles on the roadway while construction crews are onsite during pavement reclamation. Please do not park on the road during these construction activities. 

Phase 2 Residents: As many have seen from Phase 1, Phase 2 vehicle staging will be required at times for those of you who may need to leave throughout the day. Construction staff will help coordinate staging locations along Eureka Road and Grant Lorenz Road when crews are on site during major excavation operations.

As we begin Phase 2 of the project, we ask that you please label your garbage cans with your address so that crews may move them to available pickup locations on a weekly basis. Also, please set your garbage cans out on Tuesday evenings so that construction staff can move cans to a pickup location. 

Stop signs have been placed at the intersection of Edgewood Road and Grant Lorenz Road. Please be aware of the temporary traffic change as it is for the safety of everyone living in the neighborhood.

Please utilize Grant Lorenz Road for neighborhood access if you live west of Eureka Road.

Package Delivery Drivers will be unable to access homes on Phase 2 of the project during working hours. If you live on Phase 2 of the Project and have packages being delivered, please send packages to City Hall for the security of your items. The Address for City Hall is listed below:

Shorewood City Hall

5755 Country Club Rd

Shorewood, MN 55331


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Phase 1 roadway construction will continue as crews will be prepping driveways for pavement and preparing the boulevard areas for topsoil installation. Travel through Phase 1 will be limited and/or restricted at times while crews are onsite. Construction staff will be knocking on doors on a day-to-day basis to let residents know if they will need to park their cars outside of the construction zone for the day as driveways are being paved.

Remaining Phase 1 and Phase 2 tree removals will be taking place during the week of July 5th. As mentioned previously, please avoid travel in the area if tree clearing crews are onsite. Silt fence and erosion control items will also be installed on July 5th for the Phase 2 area.

Phase 2 roadway construction activities will begin on July 5th. Phase 2 roadway pavement will be turned to gravel on July 6th and driveway pavement will be removed (to the right-of-way) following mainline reclamation. Private residential contractors and residents will not be allowed to park equipment or vehicles on the roadway while construction crews are onsite during pavement reclamation. Please do not park on the road during these construction activities. 

Phase 2 Residents: As many have seen from Phase 1, Phase 2 vehicle staging will be required at times for those of you who may need to leave throughout the day. Construction staff will help coordinate staging locations along Eureka Road and Grant Lorenz Road when crews are onsite during major excavation operations.

Phase 2 watermain installation will begin on the week of July 10th. Please refer to next week’s updates for more detail.

As we begin Phase 2 of the project, we ask that you please label your garbage cans with your address so that crews may move them to available pickup locations on a weekly basis. Also, please set your garbage cans out on Tuesday evenings so that construction staff can move cans to a pickup location. 

Stop signs have been placed at the intersection of Edgewood Road and Grant Lorenz Road. Please be aware of the temporary traffic change as it is for the safety of everyone living in the neighborhood.

Please utilize Grant Lorenz Road for neighborhood access if you live west of Eureka Road.

Package Delivery Drivers will be unable to access homes on Phase 2 of the project once work starts July 5th. If you live on Phase 2 of the Project and have packages being delivered, please send packages to City Hall for the security of your items. The Address for City Hall is listed below:

Shorewood City Hall

5755 Country Club Rd

Shorewood, MN 55331

No work is scheduled on the 3rd or 4th of July next week!


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• Phase 1 roadway construction will continue through Wednesday, June 21. Travel through Phase 1 will be restricted while crews are onsite. Due to limited space, construction staff will be knocking on doors on a day-to-day basis to let residents know if they will need to stage their cars outside of the construction zone for the day as driveway access will be unavailable for prolonged periods of time while the roadway section is being constructed
• Concrete curb and gutter is scheduled to begin on June 22. During concrete work, travel through Phase 1 will be restricted to through traffic. We ask that residents living in the Phase 1 construction area (east of Eureka Road) please move their vehicles out of their driveways during the working hours. Residents may park their vehicles along Pleasant Avenue or Eureka Road while crews are onsite. Construction staff will be coming around to advise everyone of expectations while concrete crews are onsite.
• Upon completion of concrete curb and gutter, final grading and paving operations will take place. Currently, the paving operations are scheduled on June 29. The intersection of Eureka Road and Birch Bluff Road will remain gravel until the end of Phase 2.
• If you live in Phase 1 of the project, we ask that you please set your garbage cans out on Tuesday evenings so that construction staff can move cans to a pickup location. Please label your cans if you have not done so already, and your cans will be returned to you after pick up.
• Stop signs have been placed at the intersection of Edgewood Rd and Grant Lorenz Rd. Please be aware of the temporary traffic change as it is for the safety of everyone living in the neighborhood.
• While Phase 1 is being constructed please utilize Grant Lorenz Rd for neighborhood access if you live west of Eureka Rd.
• Package Delivery Drivers will be unable to access homes on Phase 1 of the project. If you live on Phase 1 of the Project and have packages being delivered, please send packages to City Hall for the security of your items. Once Phase 1 is completed, delivery drivers should be able to access the neighborhood again. The Address for City hall is listed below:

Shorewood City Hall

5755 Country Club Rd

Shorewood, MN 55331

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• Phase 1 Roadway construction will Continue on Monday, June 19^th. Travel through Phase 1 will be restricted while crews are onsite. Due to limited space, construction staff will be knocking on doors on a day to day basis to let residents know if they will need to stage their cars outside of the construction zone for the day as driveway access will be unavailable for prolonged periods of time while the roadway section is being constructed. Roadway construction is anticipated to take the majority of next week
• Concrete curb and gutter is scheduled to begin as early as June 22^nd. Construction staff will be coming around to advise everyone of expectations while concrete crews are onsite.
• Upon completion of concrete curb and gutter, final grading and paving operations will take place.
• If you live in Phase 1 of the project, we ask that you please set your garbage cans out on Tuesday, June 20 so that construction staff can move cans to a pickup location. Please label your cans if you have not done so already. Your cans will be returned to you after pick up.
• Stop signs have been placed at the intersection of Edgewood Road and Grant Lorenz Road. Please be aware of the temporary traffic change as it is for the safety of everyone living in the neighborhood.
• While Phase 1 is being constructed Please utilize Grant Lorenz Road for neighborhood access if you live west of Eureka Road.
• Package delivery drivers will be unable to access homes on Phase 1 of the project. If you live on Phase 1 of the Project and have packages being delivered, please send packages to City Hall for the security of your items. Once Phase 1 is completed, delivery drivers should be able to access the neighborhood again. The address for City hall is listed below:

Shorewood City Hall

5755 Country Club Rd

Shorewood, MN 55331

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• Phase 1 storm sewer construction will be wrapping up this week between Pleasant Ave and approximately 200 feet west of Eureka Rd. The Eureka Rd/Birch Bluff intersection will be closed while crews are on site to complete storm sewer installation.
• Phase 1 roadway construction will begin on Monday, June 12^th. Travel through Phase 1 will be restricted while crews are on site. Due to limited space, construction staff will be knocking on doors on a day-to-day basis to let residents know if they will need to park their cars outside of the construction zone for the day as driveway access will be unavailable for prolonged periods of time while the roadway section is being constructed. Roadway Construction is anticipated to take the entirety of next week and the following. Concrete curb and gutter installation will follow.
• Stop signs have been placed at the intersection of Edgewood Rd and Grant Lorenz Rd. Please be aware of the temporary traffic change as it is for the safety of everyone living in the neighborhood.
• While Phase 1 is being constructed please utilize Grant Lorenz Rd for neighborhood access if you live west of Eureka Rd.
• Package delivery drivers will be unable to access homes on Phase 1 of the project. If you live on Phase 1 of the Project and have packages being delivered, please send packages to City Hall for the security of your items. Once Phase 1 is completed, delivery drivers should be able to access the neighborhood again. The Address for City Hall is listed below:

Phase 1 Storm Sewer Construction will be taking place between Pleasant Ave and approximately 200’ West of Eureka Road. Due to limited space, construction staff will be knocking on doors on a day-to-day basis to let residents know if they will need to park their cars outside of the construction zone for the day. Driveway access will be unavailable at times. The Eureka/Birch Bluff intersection will be closed later in the week for storm sewer installation. Please utilize Grant Lorenz Road for neighborhood access if you live west of Eureka Road. Storm sewer installation is anticipated to take the entirety of next week. 

Reminders and Private Utility Work:

• If you have landscaping plants, fixtures, etc. that you would like to save that falls within the city ROW limits, please move them ASAP as Construction Crews will be excavating and have heavy equipment in these areas.
• Temporary mailboxes are set up along Eureka Road and Grant Lorenz road for all residents in the Birch Bluff neighborhood. A notice has been sent out previously and postage notes attached to everyone’s mailboxes with regards to where their temporary mailbox is placed.
• All residents are asked to label their garbage, yard waste, and recycling containers. Duct tape with the home address written on it in permanent marker on the can works best. Construction staff will be moving garbage cans around on pickup day so that they are accessible for sanitation services.
• Phase 1 storm sewer work for the project will be starting on Thursday June 1. During this time, no traffic will be allowed through the Phase 1 area while the pipe crew are onsite. Residents living in Phase 1 may be asked to park their cars out of the construction area if they need to leave throughout the day. Construction staff will help coordinate.
• Mediacom, Xcel Energy, and Century Link/Lumen will be on site to complete utility relocations and old power pole removals for Phase 2. This process is anticipated to last 2 weeks. Michel’s and CenterPoint will be wrapping up their work late next week. 
• Over the next month, parking on the street will be limited, and there may be times when you will have to wait to enter/exit your driveway.
• Neighborhood access in the construction zone will be limited only to residents living within the project area. Through traffic will not be allowed once excavation operations begin.
• Equipment, materials, and supplies will continue be staged in various locations of the project site. We thank you for your patience with delivery crews and on-site contractors.
• Contractor Working Hours are 7AM to 7PM during the work week, and 9AM to 5PM on Saturdays.

• The intersection of Eureka Road will be closed on Friday, May 26th Beginning at 7am. If you live west of Eureka Road, please utilize Grant Lorenz Road for entering and exiting the neighborhood. Residents living on the east side of Eureka Road are asked to use Pleasant Avenue for entering and exiting the neighborhood on Friday. 
• Residents on City Water living in the Maple View Court Neighborhood will be temporarily out of Water from 9am to 3pm on Friday May 26th. Our apologies for the inconvenience, as crews will be working diligently to complete their work during this time.
• During the remainder of this week and next week, please utilize Grant Lorenz Road for access to and from the Birch Bluff neighborhood. Please avoid using Eureka Road for access to and from Birch Bluff Road as utility crews will be working in this area. Phase 1 Private Utility work has been completed. Remaining storm sewer and water service installations will begin next week.
• If you have landscaping plants, fixtures, etc. that you would like to save that fall within the city ROW limits, please move them ASAP as Construction Crews will be excavating and have heavy equipment in these areas. 
• Temporary mailboxes are set up along Eureka Road and Grant Lorenz Road for all residents in the Birch Bluff neighborhood. A notice has been sent out previously and postage notes attached to everyone’s mailboxes with regards to where their temporary mailbox is placed.
• All residents are asked to label their garbage, yard waste, and recycling containers. Duct tape with the home address written on it in permanent marker on the can works best. Construction staff will be moving garbage cans around on pickup day so that they are accessible for sanitation services.
• Phase 1 watermain service work for the project will be starting next week on Tuesday, May 30. During this time, no traffic will be allowed through the Phase 1 area while the watermain pipe crew are onsite. Residents living in Phase 1 may be asked to park their cars out of the construction area if they need to leave throughout the day. Construction staff will help coordinate.
• Phase 1 storm sewer utility construction is tentatively scheduled begin in June. Pipe and materials will be delivered and staged along the boulevards next week.
• Michel’s and CenterPoint will be onsite to complete utility relocations for Phase 2. This process is anticipated to last 1 to 2 more weeks.
• Over the next month, parking on the street will be limited, and there may be times when you will have to wait to enter/exit your driveway.
• Neighborhood access in the construction zone will be limited only to residents living within the project area. Through traffic will not be allowed once excavation operations begin.
• Equipment, materials, and supplies will continue to be staged in various locations of the project site. We thank you for your patience with delivery crews and on-site contractors.
• Contractor working hours are 7am to 7pm during the work week, and 9am to 5pm on Saturdays.

• During the remainder of this week and next week, please utilize Grant Lorenz Road for access to and from the Birch Bluff neighborhood. Please avoid using Eureka Road for access to and from Birch Bluff Road as utility crews will be working in this area. Phase 1 Private Utility work will be wrapping up between the East end of the project up to Eureka Road. Roadway Excavation work will begin in Phase 1 beginning next week.
• If you have landscaping plants, fixtures, etc. that you would like to save that fall within the city ROW limits, please move them ASAP as Construction Crews will be excavating and have heavy equipment in these areas.
• Temporary mailboxes are set up along Eureka Road for residents located in the Phase 1 area of the project. This includes all residents from 25655 & 25660 Birch Bluff Road, East to the Shorewood City Limits. This includes residents in Lee Circle.
• All residents are asked to label their garbage, yard waste, and recycling containers. Duct tape with the home address written on it in permanent marker on the can works best. Construction staff will be moving garbage cans around on pickup day so that they are accessible for sanitation services.
• Tree Top Tree Removals will be onsite in the morning on Saturday, May 20th removing remaining large Trees that have been marked for removal. A crane will be onsite, so please utilize Eureka Rd or Grant Lorenz Rd for entering and exiting the neighborhood. The crane is expected to be onsite during the morning but is not expected to be onsite all day.
• Phase 1 watermain for the project will be starting on Tuesday (May 23rd) of next week. During this time, no traffic will be allowed through the Phase 1 area while the watermain pipe crew are onsite. Residents living in Phase 1 may be asked to park their cars out of the construction area if they need to leave throughout the day. Construction staff will help coordinate.
• Phase 1 Storm Sewer Utility Construction is tentatively Scheduled begin in June. This will be confirmed during next week’s update.
• Michel’s and CenterPoint will be onsite to complete utility relocations for Phase 2. This process is anticipated to last 2 to 3 weeks.
• Over the next month, parking on the street will be limited, and there may be times when you will have to wait to enter/exit your driveway.
• Neighborhood access in the construction zone, will be limited only to residents living within the project area. Through traffic will not be allowed once excavation operations begin.
• Equipment, materials, and supplies will continue be staged in various locations of the project site. We thank you for your patience with delivery crews and on-site contractors.
• Contractor Working Hours are 7AM to 7PM during the work week, and 9AM to 5PM on Saturdays.

• During the remainder of this week and next week, please avoid using Eureka Road for access to and from Birch Bluff Road; instead, utilize Grant Lorenz Road for access to and from the neighborhood. Phase 1 utility work and tree Clearing has begun and will be taking place between the East end of the project up to Eureka Road. 
• Temporary mailboxes will be set up along Eureka Road for residents located in the Phase 1 area of the project. This includes all residents from 25655 & 25660 Birch Bluff Road, East to the Shorewood City Limits. This includes residents in Lee Circle. 
• ALL residents are asked to label their garbage, yard waste, and recycling containers. Duct tape with the home address written on it in permanent marker on the can works best. 
• Over the next month, parking on the street will be limited, and there may be times when you will have to wait to enter/exit your driveway. 
• At times, neighborhood access will be limited only to residents living within the project area. Through traffic will not be allowed once excavation operations begin. 
• Tree Top Tree Removals is onsite removing trees that have been marked for removal. This process is anticipated to continue all next week. 
• On May 17 or 18 Phase 1 of the project will be reclaimed into a gravel roadbed. During this time, no traffic will be allowed through the Phase 1 area while the reclaim machine is onsite. 
• Phase 1 driveway removal limits will be painted and removed at the end of next week. The removed portions of the driveways will be replaced temporarily with gravel for driveway access throughout the course of the project.
• Silt fence is tentatively scheduled to be installed project wide at the end of this week or early next week. 
• Phase 1 watermain and sanitary utility construction is tentatively scheduled beginning the Week of May 22. This will be confirmed during next week’s update. 
• Michel’s and CenterPoint will be onsite to perform utility relocations this week (Beginning May 10). They will be starting work in Phase 1 (East end) of the project and moving West into Phase 2 once Phase 1 is completed. This process is anticipated to last 2 to 3 weeks. 
• Xcel Energy will be onsite installing new power poles and transferring utilities over the course of the next few weeks. 
• Equipment, materials, and supplies will continue to be staged in various locations of the project site. We thank you for your patience with delivery crews and on-site contractors. 
• Contractor Working Hours are 7AM to 7PM during the work week, and 9AM to 5PM on Saturdays. 

• Please anticipate travel throughout the neighborhood to be difficult or restricted at times. It is a good idea to plan alternate routes.
• Over the next month, parking on the street will be limited, and there may be times when you will have to wait to enter/exit your driveway.
•  At times, neighborhood access will be limited only to residents living within the project area. Through traffic will not be allowed once excavation operations begin.
•  Equipment materials and supplies will continue be staged in various locations of the project site. We thank you for your patience with delivery crews and on-site contractors.
•  Next week, we will be sending out information on what to expect for the day-to-day operations.

As warmer weather moves in, construction season will begin taking place. We will be doing our best to provide weekly updates and keep you informed of progress and events for this year’s Birch Bluff Construction Project. As you may have noticed, the major tree removals in the project area have now been marked up. Private utility companies are set to begin installation and relocation of their in-place facilities over the course of the next month. Due to the extremely tight roadway limits and with the amount of equipment and personnel that will be onsite, travel through the neighborhood will be difficult at times. Please be mindful of the workers and remember they are working as quickly as possible to complete their work. You may need to wait for equipment and crew at times. You may also need to use alternate routes at times. Parking on the street will also be limited. Driveway access is required to be maintained during the private utility installations, but there may be times when you will have to wait for a crew to move out of the way. Once the utility contractors have completed their work, the roadway construction will take place.

During major utility and roadway construction, driveway access will be limited during the working day once roadway and major utility construction begins. The Resident Project Representative will be onsite to help coordinate parking with all residents in the work zone during this work. Please see below for the tentative project schedule and phasing for construction activities.

The Project Phasing:

Phase 1- This area will be between The Shorewood/Tonka Bay City Limits on the East End of the project, to Eureka Road. This area also includes Lee Circle. The work consists of roadway pavement reclamation, watermain, and storm sewer utility installation. Upon completion of the utility installation, the crew will begin roadway section construction in the area. Detailed updates will be provided once construction is underway.

Phase 2- This area will be between Eureka Road to Grant Lorenz/Edgewood Road. The work consists of roadway pavement reclamation, watermain, storm sewer utility, and retaining wall installation. Upon completion of the utility and retaining wall installation, the crew will begin roadway section construction in the area. Detailed updates will be provided once construction is underway.

Tentative Project Schedule (May 2023):

Based on the tentative project schedule, below is an outlook on what will be taking place as the month of May approaches. All scheduled construction activities are weather dependent.

Week of May 1, 2023:  CenterPoint and Michel’s plan to be onsite performing gas main and gas service relocations. This process is anticipated to last 2 to 3 weeks.

Week of May 8, 2023: Tree trimming will be taking place throughout the neighborhood to provide room for clearing equipment and Xcel Energy to come in and perform power relocation. Immediately following tree trimming will be tree removals.

Week of May 15, 2023: Tree clearing is slated to take place. This will involve complete removal of the tree branches, trunk, and stump. Please note that leftover woodchips, sticks, etc. will be cleaned up as the project progresses towards completion.

Week of May 23, 2023: Xcel Energy plans to be onsite to install new utility poles and transfer power lines. Please note that Xcel will be providing a notice if scheduled outages are to take place. This email thread will follow up to keep you informed, as well.

Week of May 23, 2023: New Look Construction will be mobilizing equipment and beginning roadway construction. Pavement reclamation is slated to begin this week, with Watermain and storm sewer utility installation to follow.

In the coming weeks of May, you may see other utility companies relocating their aerial lines to the new poles and relocating some underground utility items. Once CenterPoint and Xcel have completed their work, the general contractor will be starting up the roadway construction portion of the project. When the Project General Contractor is onsite, neighborhood access will be limited only to residents living within the project area. Through traffic will not be allowed as excavation operations will begin to take place in the roadway. If you do not live in the Birch Bluff Neighborhood or within the project area, please utilize other routes when the roadway construction begins.

As we progress towards the major roadway construction work, the contractor will be mobilizing equipment, materials, silt fence, and other miscellaneous items to the site. Please note that all supplies and equipment will be stored in the boulevard locations of the project area for the time being. Once the project begins, equipment and materials will be periodically installed and shifted around the site. If you are a resident traveling through the neighborhood, please be patient with delivery crews and contractors on-site. The Resident Project Representative will be onsite in the coming weeks to introduce themself and begin helping coordinate construction activities. Next week, we will be sending out information on what to expect for the day-to-day operations of this fast-approaching project. We ask that you please use this email update as a primary source of project schedule information and updates on major construction work to come.

Construction Staff for the Birch Bluff Road Street & Utility Improvement Project is planning on marking trees for removal within the City Right-of-way later today. Trees identified to be removed were originally marked with a pink dot earlier this year. After today, the trees slated for removal within the City Right-Of-Way will now be marked will be marked with a “X”. No trees on private property will be marked for removal until after City staff has reached out to each property owner and discussed the impacts. The tree trimming and tree removal is anticipated to start later this month. We will provide advance notice of the work to come once a date has been finalized.

The Birch Bluff Road Street & Utility Improvement Project is anticipated to begin trimming trees near the power lines on Thursday, April 6. This work will be done by Asplundh. They plan to have two trucks and crews on site to complete the work quickly and efficiently. This trimming work is anticipated to take a couple days to complete. Please anticipate a lot of noise and some short duration obstructions in the street at times during this work. As part of the tree trimming project some tree limbs and logs will be left on site, within city right-of-way, until they can be removed later. The tree clearing is anticipated to occur later this month. The clearing work would be done by Tree Top Clearing and expected to take a few days to complete removals.

The Birch Bluff Road Street & Utility Improvement Project was awarded by the City Council on November 14, 2022. The first step of the construction phase will be tree clearing. All trees anticipated for removal have been marked with a dot of pink paint at the base of each tree. If residents have any questions on trees please contact City Engineer, Andrew Budde. Trees will be marked with a large “X” a few days prior to the actual removal, which is anticipated to start in February. It is anticipated that trees near the power poles will be trimmed for safety in late-January. This trimming work will be done by Asplundh, coordinated by Xcel Energy. The full tree clearing work will be completed shortly following the trimming work. As part of the tree trimming, Asplundh will be trimming tree branches as needed. The tree limbs that are trimmed will be placed and stored within the Right-of-Way until Tree Top Clearing, Inc. comes and completes the tree clearing activities.

The Birch Bluff Road Street & Utility Improvement Project was awarded by the City Council on November 14, 2022. The first step of the construction phase will be tree clearing. In late November/early December City staff will be marking up the trees anticipated for removal with a dot of pink paint at the base of each tree. If residents have any questions on trees please contact City Engineer, Andrew Budde. The trees will later be marked with a large “X” a few days prior to the actual removal. It is anticipated that trees near the power poles will be trimmed for safety in early Winter. This trimming work will be done by Asplundh, coordinated by Xcel Energy. The full tree clearing work will be completed shortly following the trimming work. This clearing work will be done by Tree Top Clearing, Inc.

Thank you to everyone who has provided comments or questions since the Birch Bluff Road open house in April.  This information for proposed storm sewer, watermain, and overall construction limits is still conceptual but should provide a better understanding of the overall project impacts.  The tree inventory is also complete.  This can be used for identifying the trees with tags in your yard.  The final tree impacts and removals will be determined during the final design process and in discussion with adjacent property owners with the goal to preserve healthy trees during the project.  A FAQ section has also been updated on the website.

Please provide any additional comments you may have associated to the project prior to Tuesday, June 7 at 5:00 p.m.  All comments received prior to this time through the website, email, mail, or phone to City Engineer Andrew Budde will be included in the council packet for the June 13 council meeting for the council’s consideration.  At the June 13 council meeting, staff will request approval of the final scoping document and authorization to prepare final plans & specifications.  The final scoping document will be made available at city hall and on this page approximately one week prior to the June 13 council meeting. 

The following items are planned to be recommended by the City Engineer to the City Council for their consideration and approval. 

Street:

1. Street width of 26 feet wide with vertical face concrete curb & gutter (B618).  This width is generally the same as adding curb & gutter onto the existing bituminous. Birch Bluff Road will continue to function as a through street and will adhere to the State Fire Code and allows for on-street parking which will slow vehicle speeds. The impacts of a 24 foot wide roadway were evaluated and would save an estimated 24 out of 229 trees, $27,000 in construction costs, and would not allow for on-street parking.  Most on-street parking along Birch Bluff Rd currently pulls the tires off of the existing pavement by about 2 feet and is therefore already utilizing a 26-foot to 28-foot roadway footprint. 
2. On-street parking allowed on the south side of Birch Bluff Road.
3. Speed limit to remain 25 mph.
4. Birch Bluff Rd/Grant Lorenz Rd radius to be realigned and lowered to 15 mph design and posted speeds. 
5. Lee Circle cul-de-sac constructed at the city standard of 90-foot diameter.  The current radius is approximately 55-foot diameter. 
6. All stop signs are to remain: 3-way stop at Birch Bluff Rd/Eureka Rd, 3-way stop at Birch Bluff Rd/Pleasant Rd, and 1-way stop at Lee Circle/Birch Bluff.

Sidewalk/Trail:

1. Do not construct the sidewalk and trail on Birch Bluff Rd with this project.  A large majority of the residents do not want a sidewalk or trail with this project. This item was being discussed because it was identified on the city’s sidewalk and trail plan in 2012.
2. Do not plan to construct a sidewalk/trail as part of the future Eureka Road improvements project slated for 2027. 

Utilities:

1. Construct an 8-inch watermain under Birch Bluff Road and Lee Circle. 
2. The four parcels currently served by Tonka Bay watermain are to remain on Tonka Bay water.
3. Utilize existing fire lanes for storm sewer outlets to Lake Minnetonka.
4. Pursue ponding and associated drainage and utility easement acquisition at 26045 Birch Bluff Rd.

Birch Bluff Road PowerPoint from Open House
Video recording 

Preliminary information was on the February 28 City Council meeting. 
Scoping Document
Draft Layout
Process chart

The tree inventory for the Birch Bluff Road project is anticipated to begin today, February 23, weather dependent. The field collection process will likely take about three weeks and should be completed by mid-March.

During the fieldwork, you will see staff in the field marking trees with small aluminum tags with individual identification numbers. These tags do not mean the tree is marked for removal or impacts at this time, it is strictly identifying the tree so that it can be identified in reports and plans. The trees that will be identified reach beyond the anticipated construction limits to make sure we capture all tree information in the area