If you have driven through Edina in the past 2 months, you might have noticed that there has been an absurd amount of construction on Edina roads.  According to the City of Edina Website, there are 6 current projects, including Morningside Avenue & White Oaks Neighborhood Roadway Reconstruction, Highway 100 at Vernon Noise Wall, Tracy Avenue, Valley Lane and Valley View Road Intersection Improvements, and Tracy Avenue reconstruction from Benton Avenue to Highway 62.  Another location is Olinger Avenue near Bredeson Park, which is currently under 5 feet of dirt and completely closed to traffic.  This has been causing more traffic and build up, an increase in people’s commute times, and discontent within the community.  

Eva Mitchell, an Edina High School junior affected by the construction, said: “Did the guy who came up with this just wake up at 2 am and go: ‘Ah yes let’s start construction… EVERYWHERE!!’  It’s so annoying.”  Many people are now forced to add more than 10 minutes to their daily commute just because of all of the detours. “It takes me so much longer to get everywhere and people don’t understand how to get around it and it’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen” said Mitchell.  

One road closure that has affected many Edina students is Tracy Avenue.  According to The City of Edina website, “The City has been working with the Three Rivers Park District for many years to develop the Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail that will run through Edina. The final trail alignment was approved by the City Council last year. The trail will cross Tracy Avenue at Valley Lane and Valley View Road, and getting pedestrians and bikers across safely is a priority.”  Even though this project is meant to help improve Edina, it seems that it’s just causing more problems.  Some of the improvements include replacing concrete pavement with asphalt, 5 ft. wide on-street bike lanes, realigned curves at Arbour Lane and Ridgeway Road, repairs of the existing sidewalks, a new 5 ft. wide sidewalk and parking lane along Countryside Park, along with: sanitary sewers, water mains and water services, and storm sewer improvements.

Even though this construction is difficult right now, it will improve Edina in the end.  So try to make the best of it, follow the detours, and drive safe.