Vernon Avenue & Highway 100 Interchange Project

Overnight on Friday, November 14, into Saturday, November 15, the off-ramps of Highway 100 will be re-opened to traffic. This includes northbound Highway 100 existing to 50^th Street. Vehicles will be able to go left towards the Grandview District or right towards 50^th and France District. It also includes southbound Highway 100 exiting across Vernon Avenue, behind Hilltop Restaurant to Arcadia Avenue.

The northbound on-ramp to Highway 100 is still under discussion. There has been a delay in the noise wall planking. Space is very tight along the on-ramp to install the planking safely under traffic. We are reviewing options to get that on-ramp open.

As previously detailed, the contractor will work as long as weather allows on the Vernon Ave Bridge over the railway this fall. Work will resume in the spring when weather allows, tentatively April. When work stops this winter, we will open Gus Young Lane to Interlachen Blvd and Vernon Ave with a temporary traffic signal.

Thank you for your patience.

Progress continues towards re-opening the Highway 100 Bridge and related ramps to Highway 100 by mid-November. As previously detailed, the contractor will work as long as weather allows on the Vernon Ave Bridge over the railway this fall. Work will resume in the spring when weather allows, tentatively April. When work stops, we will open Gus Young Lane to Interlachen Blvd and Vernon Ave with a temporary traffic signal.

Next week will see a continuation of work such as the final layer of paving, noise wall planking, sidewalk railings, light poles, and site clean-up. It should be noted that the project team found locations for 13 new trees within medians on both 50^th Street and Vernon Ave. Thank you for your patience.

Concrete work on the west abutment started today. Photo attached. Thanks

Progress continues towards re-opening the Highway 100 Bridge and related on- & off-ramps to Highway 100 by mid-November. The contractor has completed most of the concrete sidewalk, curb & gutter, and the first layers of asphalt paving. The final layer of paving is tentatively scheduled for the week of November 3. Noise wall planking is also expected to start November 3, 2025. The project team has recently reviewed adding trees within some of the medians. Sightlines and maintenance areas were reviewed. It was determined that 3 trees can be planted east of the Highway 100 on 50th Street. 10 trees can be planted west of Highway 100 on Vernon Avenue. There are 6 large boxed tress in the city hall parking lot that will be used for a portion of these plantings. We thank everyone for their patience during construction.

Work started last week on the west abutment of the Vernon Avenue bridge. This is good news but there is not enough time to finish that portion of the project by mid-November. The project team analyzed potential construction schedules and cost escalations related to acerating the work. The most expensive option was an additional $2.3M. This would allow a partial opening of the Vernon Ave Bridge for 6 weeks in February and March. The City and County did not feel the cost was worth a short-term temporary bridge opening. Therefore, it has been decided that the contractor will continue work as long as weather allows in 2025. They will resume work as soon as weather allows in April 2026. The Highway 100 bridge and on and off ramps are on schedule to open mid-November. Thanks

Work started this week on the west abutment of the Vernon Avenue bridge. This is good news but there is not enough time to finish that portion of the project by mid-November. The project team is analyzing potential construction schedules and costs related to this work. As soon as a decision is made, we will communicate that. Much of the concrete curb and gutter on Vernon Avenue, 50^th Street, and the new on- & off-ramps will be installed this week. The portion of the project around the Highway 100 Bridge including on- and off-ramps is on schedule to re-open by mid-November.

Finally, work started on the west abutment of the Vernon Avenue bridge. Picture provided. Discussions with the contractor continue on schedules moving forward. As soon as we know a plan, we will provide that information. Thanks

Xcel Energy has de-energized the power line that has conflicted with the new west bridge support. The contractor will begin work next week to excavate an area for Xcel Energy to place a steel pipe that will contain the power line in the future. This steel pipe protects it from potential hits and makes it more resilient. They will also begin removing the old bridge support. There is not enough time to complete the Vernon Avenue Bridge by November 15 as detailed in the contract due to this delay. Xcel Energy and the contractor are developing schedules and cost to finish the project. When information is available, it will be shared. The critical path is asphalt paving and how long the asphalt plants are open before closing for the winter.

Xcel Energy has secured a permit from CPKC Railroad to relocate the power line that has been delaying the project. There is not enough time to complete the Vernon Avenue Bridge by November 15 as detailed in the contract due to this delay. Xcel Energy and the contractor are now discussing schedules and cost to finish the project. When information is available, it will be shared. The critical path is asphalt paving and how long the asphalt plants are open before closing for the winter.

On Wednesday night, the entire concrete deck of the Highway 100 Bridge was poured. Concrete started flowing through large concrete pumper trucks at 8:30 pm. By approximately 4 am, the entire deck was poured. Crews were completing the finishing work and covering the concrete at 7 am, Thursday morning. The concrete deck will need approximately 7 days to cure before work can start on medians, barriers, curbs, and sidewalks.

Xcel Energy has secured a permit from CPKC Railroad to relocate the power line that has been delaying the project. Xcel Energy and the contractor will now start discussing schedules and cost to finish the project. When information is available, it will be shared. Thanks