Town square: Major road projects will disrupt south metro in 2014

Shakopee officials are trying to prepare people to brace for some disruption this year as some major road projects approach.

A new four-lane bridge over the Minnesota River downtown is among them. The two-lane Hwy. 101 to Chanhassen will be widened and lifted above floodwaters, and a roundabout will appear at the "Y" on the Carver County side. Construction is to begin by early summer.

Another important site is the intersection of Marschall Road and Vierling Drive. The city will add a second left-turn lane from Marschall to Vierling, and the state will add a turn lane from the southbound Hwy. 169 ramp. That work is to take place from July to early October, with traffic delays likely. The city and county also are planning a mini-roundabout at Vierling and County Road 79. That is a three-week project, set for June, after school is out.

There will also be construction work at Valley View Road, County Roads 17/78 and the 69/169 interchange.

To learn more, see www.sha kopeemn.gov/roadprojects.

The Scott County Board this week was expected to approve a deal with neighboring Carver County to nail down the new flood-proof bridge crossing from Shakopee to Chanhassen.

The project is a 4,100-foot-long bridge over the flood plain that will change the look of the area considerably. There also will be a bike trail.

The two counties will split local costs estimated at $2.3 million each for the main 101 bridge.

Other sources will cover the bulk of the costs for the wider project, notably state flood mitigation funds.

The two will share snow and ice removal duties.

Construction is to be complete by the fall of 2015.

An April pickup date is approaching for those interested in picking up low-cost plants as part of a Scott County program.

Pickup dates are April 25 and 26 at the Scott County Fairgrounds in Jordan.

Orders will be taken until April for rain barrels and for 29 tree varieties that include balsam fir and golden (weeping) willow.

The aim is to help property owners naturalize a border, attract wildlife and pollinators, or add fruit trees.

If you want to be added to a mailing list, send your e-mail address or mailing address to dhrabe@co.scott.mn.us.

To see a slide show of this year's offerings, go to www.scottswcd.org/gallery_trees.

The event takes place March 18 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Dakota Electric Association, 4300 W. 220th St., Farmington.

Registration is requested by Tuesday. Contact Peggy Madden, University of Minnesota Extension, Dakota County at 651-480-7747 or madde017@umn.edu.