Blake Road - 2022 / 2023 Roadway Reconstruction

Blake Road will be closed between Waterman Avenue and Spruce Road for roadway and utility improvements by S.M. Hentges & Sons beginning on Monday August 15 until November 2022. The detour route will be Interlachen Boulevard, Highway 100 and Excelsior Boulevard. Residents east of Blake Road with no outlet other than Blake Road should enter and exit as shown on the following map.

The contractor will begin by reclaiming the asphalt pavement, which is the process of grinding the existing pavement into a gravel base. Removal of driveway ends within the construction limits will begin as necessary in preparation for the underground utility work. After the removals are complete, crews will begin installing a temporary above ground watermain in advance of the watermain work.

We invite you to review this document summarizing what to expect during construction.

Due to delays relocating private utility infrastructure south of Waterman Ave, the south portion of the project will be delayed until 2023. The north portion from Waterman Ave to Spruce Rd will be constructed this year with a start date of early to mid - August. CenterPoint Energy is completing distribution gas main and service replacements now. Xcel Energy is scheduled to begin their relocation work the week of July 25. This work will last approximately 6-weeks. Xcel's work will require the removal of 1 ash tree, 4-6 smaller cedar trees and an area of invasive buckthorn. All removals are within the ROW. There will be additional tree removals associated with the street reconstruction project. Those will most likely occur in 2023. These removals allow for the replacement of retaining walls at the end of their useful life and the addition of bike and pedestrian sidewalks and trails. Much discussion has occurred between staff and the adjacent owners to limit impacts from the project. Thanks, Chad Millner, City Engineer.

Due to private utility relocations and material delivery delays, the project south of Waterman Avenue will be delayed until 2023. The contractor still anticipates completing construction between Waterman Avenue and Spruce Road this year. Most likely starting in August. Staff continues to push the private utilities to complete all relocations this year so the contractor can start early in 2023. Please direct questions to Chad Millner, City Engineer.

Blake Road between Interlachen Boulevard and Waterman Avenue will be closed for gas main improvements by CenterPoint Energy beginning on 5/27/22. The intersection of Interlachen Boulevard and Blake Road will be open during this closure, beginning on the evening of 5/27/22. The detour route will be Interlachen Boulevard, Highway 100 and Excelsior Boulevard. CenterPoint Energy’s contractor Minnesota Limited will coordinate with local residents to maintain access to homes within the closure.

Blake Road between Interlachen Boulevard and Waterman Avenue will be closed for gas main improvements by CenterPoint Energy beginning on 5/23/22 for a few weeks. The detour route will be Vernon Avenue, Highway 100 and Excelsior Boulevard. CenterPoint Energy’s contractor Minnesota Limited will coordinate with local residents to maintain access to homes within the closure.

*Amended* Blake Road between Lake Ridge Road and Oak Bend Lane will be closed for gas main improvements by CenterPoint Energy beginning on 5/2/22 for multiple weeks. The detour route will be Interlachen Boulevard and Vernon Avenue. CenterPoint Energy’s contractor Michels will coordinate with local residents to maintain access to homes within the closure.

Please see the following updates relating to CenterPoint Energy's gas main and service replacement project.

1. CenterPoint Energy’s contractor, Michels Corporation, is scheduled to begin gas main installation on April 11.
2. Anticipate road closures associated with the work.
3. CenterPoint Energy's work is not part of the City's Blake Road Street Reconstruction contract.
4. The City is scheduled to consider awarding a construction contract for the road and utility improvements on April 19.
5. This work is occurring to replace old steel gas main and services prior to the City’s project.
6. City staff will only be onsite for this work periodically to ensure the gas main is not placed in the way of our future infrastructure.
7. For additional gas main and service replacement information and updates please visit CenterPoint Energy’s project web page.

CenterPoint Energy Blake Road Website

Thank you.

The City Council authorized the design and contractor bidding phase for the project on December 21 including the following improvements:

• A roundabout at the Blake Road and Interlachen Boulevard intersection
• Steel Sheet Pile style retaining wall adjacent to Mirror Lakes
• 8-feet wide concrete shared use path along the west side of the street north of Waterman Avenue
  • Staff will continue to work with residents to protect trees
• 6-feet wide concrete sidewalk along the west side of the street south of Interlachen Boulevard, and
• 5-feet wide on-street concrete bike lanes

Preparation of final plans and specifications will be prepared this winter, followed by solicitation of contractor bids. We anticipate construction beginning in April or May 2022. The estimated preliminary assessment amount is $7,000 per residential equivalent unit, payable beginning in 2023 after construction is complete.

The City hired Nagell Appraisal Inc. to prepare a letter report providing a preliminary opinion of market benefit for similar properties in the neighborhood. The letter report is available for viewing in the document library located here. The estimated assessment amount per residential equivalent unit (REU) is $7,000.

The Engineering Study can be viewed here.

To complete the public hearing comment form please click here.

The Edina City Council will meet at Edina City Hall on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, at 6:00 p.m., to consider the public hearing on roadway improvements for Blake Road Neighborhood Roadway Reconstruction. This hearing is being conducted under the authority granted by Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 429.

This hearing has been called as a recommendation from staff. The proposed project would be constructed in the summer of 2022 with the assessment hearing occurring in the fall of 2023. The estimated cost is $272,860.00 and is funded by special assessment. The estimated cost per assessable lot is $7,000.00 per residential equivalent unit. The assessment can be divided over a fifteen-year period with interest accumulating on the unpaid balance.

The area proposed to be assessed the cost of the proposed improvement includes the following:

300 to 5125 Blake Road South, 6212 to 6308 Interlachen Boulevard, 5100 to 5101 Lake Ridge Road, 6408 Maloney Avenue, 6400 to 6401 Mendelssohn Lane, 5000 Oak Bend Lane, 5101, 5111 and 5117 Scriver Road, 6324 Waterman Avenue.