Major remake of Hwy. 55 intersection in Plymouth aims to improve bike, pedestrian and transit access

The intersection of Hwy. 55 and County Road 73 in the west metro suburb of Plymouth is hardly transportation friendly.

Several surrounding roads that wind around buildings, including a large transit center and park-and-ride, create odd connections for drivers trying to reach the mainline and often leads to traffic backups and presents other safety issues.

Bicyclists and pedestrians trying to cross Hwy. 55 to access businesses parks and a regional trail face their own set of hazards.

All of that is about to change.

Work begins Monday on the $25 million redo of the area that will realign County Road 73 on the south side of Hwy. 55, put roundabouts at two nearby intersections and add a bike and pedestrian tunnel under Hwy. 55 to create safer access to the Eagle Lake Regional Trail and new bus stops.

The Station 73 Transit and Regional Improvement Project (TRIP) also includes upgrades to the Station 73 transit center and sidewalks in the area.

“This generational investment at Hwy. 55 and County Road 73 will improve safety and mobility for everyone, drivers, bikers, pedestrians, and transit riders, while strengthening regional connectivity,” said Michael Thompson, Plymouth’s Public Works director.

The highway will be closed between Revere Lane and West Medicine Lake Drive Monday through the fall, meaning drivers will detoured via I-494, Interstate 394 and Hwy. 169. Another alternate route is Old County Road 15.

“While this is a major closure, we’ve prioritized maintaining access for local businesses and residents throughout the project to ensure the community stays connected during construction,” Thompson said.

This year’s work includes the new trail underpass, installing new bus stops on Hwy. 55 near Station 73 and reconstructing a frontage road on the north side of the highway.

Next year, the city will straighten County Road 73 between Hwy. 55 and Sunset Trail, and build roundabouts at Zachary Lane and Sunset Trail and at South Shore Drive and 10th Avenue N.

Plymouth is partnering with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), the Met Council, Hennepin County, and the Three Rivers Park District to carry out the project.

Starting in July, MnDOT will resurface Hwy. 55 between Thomas Avenue in Minneapolis and Hwy. 100 in Golden Valley.

“Motorists can expect lane closures and other traffic impacts,” the agency warned.

Besides laying new asphalt, crews also will make repairs to the bridge over the BNSF railroad which runs near Theodore Wirth Regional Park.

The work also will include putting in a new raised median at Dahlberg Drive to make left turns safer, a trail on the north side of Hwy. 55 between Shaper Road and Theodore Wirth Parkway and an alternative Luce Line trail route, MnDOT said.