Golden Valley Leaders: Douglas Drive and Tunnel Construction Completed
Golden Valley leaders say all that remains before they can officially open the new pedestrian tunnel under Highway 55 at Douglas Drive are some minor security updates. The months-long project last summer also included a new roundabout on Douglas Drive immediately adjacent to Perpich Center for Arts Education and new crosswalk signals to help people cross traffic more safely.
The newly-completed repairs to the busy Douglas Drive and Highway 55 intersection in Golden Valley.
“It feels great to have the project complete and, again, I think it’s going to be an asset to have this underpass where people can safely cross Douglas Drive, feel more comfortable with their kids biking to and from ball fields or parks from their neighborhood, that they don’t have to cross at-grade Highway 55,” said Assistant City Engineer R.J. Kakach.
He said the response has been overwhelmingly positive since the road was fully re-opened in December.
“We’ve heard from multiple people that said the traffic flow at the intersection is way better than it was originally,” said Kakach. “As I drive through it myself I can see it just operates more smoothly. The real test will be in the summer when we get more activities here at Perpich, people are out and about more. But so far we’re seeing great results on the flow of the intersection and then the actual tunnel itself.”
Before, pedestrians had to cross under the traffic light on Highway 55, a four-lane divided highway.
Tunnel a Big Improvement
The newly-completed tunnel that goes under Highway 55 at Douglas Drive will help more people safely cross the busy intersection, according to Golden Valley officials.
“People were playing Frogger across 55 on a day-to-day basis to get to and from school or just recreationally to cross the highway,” said Kakach. “The tunnel is making that way easier.”
The project included closing down Douglas Drive for ten months and a ten-day closure of Highway 55.
“Everybody was very cooperative during those times of disruption of traffic to their daily commute,” said Kakach.
