News Release

Highway 7 to Close from St. Bonifacius to Highway 41
in Shorewood for Major Road Improvements

Roseville, Minn.— The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) will close Highway 7 from St. Bonifacius to Highway 41 in Shorewood beginning May 6, 2002.

The roadway will close so construction crews can begin working on improvements to Highway 7.

These improvements include constructing 10-foot-wide paved shoulders along the entire length of the project, except for where adjacent wetlands restrict widening; resurfacing the roadway; adding left turn lanes at numerous key intersections; adding left turn bypass lanes at Foxglove Circle, Merrywood Lane, Oak Road and Grimm Road; adding right turn lanes at Foxglove Circle, Casamita Road, Oak Road and Six Mile Creek Road; reconstructing, combining and signalizing the intersections of Rolling Acres Road and Smithtown Road and Bayview Drive; replacing and widening the bridge over Six Mile Creek in St. Bonifacius.

Mn/DOT recommends the following detour for the eastbound traffic: Southbound Highway 25 to eastbound Highway 5 to northbound Highway 41 back to Highway 7. Westbound traffic should follow southbound Highway 41 to westbound Highway 5 back to northbound Highway 25.

Mn/DOT expects the project to be completed in November 2002, weather permitting.

Mn/DOT reminds motorists to SLOW DOWN in the work zone and NEVER enter a roadway that has been blocked with barriers or cones. Please join us in a safety partnership.

For updated construction information and roadway closures in the metro area, visit the Mn/DOT web site: www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/construction. For updated traffic information in the Twin Cities metro area, visit www.dot.state.mn.us/tmc/trafficinfo.

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Contact:
Kevin Walker
(651) 582-1362

Metro Division
1500 County Road B2 West
Roseville, MN 55113
Office Tel: 612/582-1000