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<br />Hennepin County Public Works <br /> <br />Transportation Department Phone: 763-745-7500 <br />Public Works Facility FAX: 763-478-4000 <br />1600 Prairie Drive TDD: 763-478-4030 <br />Medina, MN 55340-5421 www.hennepin.us <br /> <br />An Equal Opportunity Employer <br /> <br />October 2, 2024 <br /> <br /> <br />Property Owner <br />1449 Shoreline Dr <br />Orono, MN 55391 <br /> <br /> <br />RE: Tanager Bay Bridge Replacement <br /> <br />In 2021 Hennepin County replaced Bridge 27592 also referred to as the Tanager Bay Bridge carrying <br />CSAH 15 over Lake Minnetonka. This project was a critical need as CSAH 15 is the primary route <br />for Hwy 394 to the Lake Minnetonka community that carries approximately 20,000 vehicles per day. <br />The project was also a critical need as the Tanager Bay Bridge was at the end of it’s service life and <br />had significant weight restrictions for commercial traffic that resulted in lengthy detours. <br /> <br />Because the Lake Minnetonka economy depends on the summer tourism and leisure activities, it was <br />crucial to minimize and mitigate traffic impacts as much as possible. To accomplish this, Hennepin <br />County partnered with adjacent property owners so we could stage construction and relocate the new <br />bridge to keep the roadway open for approximately 80% of the project. This required a substantial <br />acquisition of temporary and permanent easements on both sides of the bridge. It also required <br />building a construction staging area on 1449 Shoreline Dr. that sits adjacent to Tanager Bay on the <br />western side of CSAH 15. All construction considerations and impacts went through the necessary <br />environmental permitting processes and received Federal, State and City approvals. The existing <br />conditions out there today are a direct result and need of the project that occurred in 2021. <br /> <br />This was a successful partnership between government, private industry and engaged residents to <br />help move a complex and time sensitive project forward while minimizing and mitigating impacts for <br />the general public. <br /> <br />Sincerely, <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />John D. Ekola, PE <br />Hennepin County Bridge Engineer <br />Public Works Department <br />1600 Prairie Drive <br />Medina, MN 55340-5421 <br />Direct: 612-596-0370 <br />john.ekola@hennepin.us <br /> <br /> <br />50