Severe storms that drenched the south metro area this month left an estimated $2.2 million of damage to Dakota County roads and shut down Miesville Ravine Park Reserve until further notice.
Flood damage in Dakota County exceeds $2 million
June 27, 2012 at 3:51AM
Flooding in the park at the confluence of Trout Brook and the Cannon River in southern Dakota County washed 1,800 square feet of boardwalk from its footings and damaged two parking lots and nearly 3 miles of trails, leaving a mess in its wake.
"The park is covered with tree debris," said Steve Sullivan, the county's parks and open space director.
Just west of the park, a portion of County Road 91 is closed, likely until repairs can be made this fall. Floodwaters washed away the road on either side of a concrete culvert bridge over the north fork of Trout Brook.
"We're hustling to try to put together a project to replace the road before winter," said Brian Sorenson, a county transportation engineer.
The section of County Road 91 that serves Gopher Hills Golf Course and nearby homes is open.
Damaged sections of County Road 85 south of New Trier and County Road 68 in Ravenna Township are open again to traffic but will undergo further repair later this year. Along those roads, floodwaters washed away the gravel beneath the pavement and eroded the surface around culverts that could not handle all the water.
KATIE HUMPHREY
