Construction begins on Schmidt Lake Road in Plymouth
A $2.5 million makeover of Schmidt Lake Road will turn the two-lane roadway into four lanes. Construction is expected to finish in October.
Residents “are going to be happy”
Drivers will face detours and delays while construction takes place on Schmidt Lake Road in Plymouth. But when the road opens, residents will find travel much easier.
“I think the residents of Plymouth are going to be happy with this project once it’s completed,” said Mike Payne, Plymouth’s assistant city engineer. “They’ll be able to move through here more freely.”
The Schmidt Lake Road makeover will take place between Fernbrook Lane and Northwest Boulevard. Crews will remove all pavement and widen the two-lane roadway to four lanes. Where it’s already four lanes, crews will overlay the roadway with a new layer of asphalt on top.
A key part of the thoroughfare’s expansion will be the extra lanes under I-494. The city has had this on its radar for a few years.
“It is time,” Payne said. “When MnDOT added a third lane on 494, we planned ahead. We worked with them to build the bridge wide enough to accommodate four lanes. Now we’re just connecting the corridor to get a consistent four-lane corridor throughout.”
An easier drive on Schmidt Lake Road
Plymouth has experienced a population boom in recent years. Improving roads and streets is critical to keep up with growth.
“As Plymouth grows we need to be diligent with our infrastructure making sure we are making good investments,” Payne said. “Then we can accommodate all the traveling public.”
Plymouth will add a left turn lane on Cheshire Parkway. The city will also team with the Three Rivers Park District to upgrade a nearby trail.
The detours for those traveling the area are Fernbrook Lane to Rockford road to Northwest Boulevard. Schmidt Lake Road reopens in late August and construction wraps up in October.
