Vernon Avenue Bridge

Welcome to the virtual open house for the Vernon Avenue Bridge replacement and intersections improvements! We created this interactive online resource to provide a project overview and information we think will be helpful for you.

Scroll down or click through the tabs to learn about the project and provide feedback! We have a survey at the end of the open house that you can use to provide feedback. The survey will be open through the end of June.

If you need assistance using this online resource or have questions about the project, contact us at  transportation@hennepin.us  or call 612-348-8448.

In 2023, Hennepin County is planning to replace the existing Vernon Avenue Bridge, as it is reaching the end of its service life. The ways people travel the area also has changed since the bridge last had improvements; when it was widened in 1965 and rehabilitated in 1985.

As we plan for the new bridge, we have an opportunity to not only update the design of the new bridge, but also make improvements to the intersections of Vernon Avenue and Interlachen Boulevard and the Highway 100 off-ramp.

Goals include improving access, mobility and user safety.

Vernon Avenue is a heavily used regional county road (County Road 158) that carries more than 20,000 vehicles per day between Highway 62 to Highway 100.

The Vernon Avenue Bridge is a gateway to and from destinations in the Grandview District and connects people using Highway 100 and Interlachen Boulevard.

The project area is located in the Grandview District, a busy commercial area this is a popular destination for people in surrounding communities. As those who live in or frequent the area know, the district offers a dense mixture of housing, office buildings, retail, banks, restaurants, service centers, churches, and even a library. 

Today, people driving, walking and rolling on the existing Vernon Avenue Bridge and connecting roadways deal with safety, connectivity and delay issues. Below is an overview of the issues currently experienced in this area.

Access to Gus Young Lane from westbound Vernon Avenue

The current traffic lanes on westbound Vernon Avenue at the Interlachen Boulevard intersection include a combined left-turn/through lane and a combined right-turn/through lane.

This layout provides a poor level of service for people driving and can result in traffic delays going through the intersection and unsafe driving maneuvers.

The existing off-ramp connection includes a slip lane that allows people driving to “slip” onto westbound Vernon Avenue without entering the intersection.

The slip lane at the off-ramp encourages higher speeds on Vernon Avenue and presents safety issues for people walking and rolling who need to use the crosswalk to connect to the existing sidewalks on Vernon Avenue.

There are sidewalk gaps near the bridge along Vernon Avenue, and where there are sidewalks, some are too narrow. There is also a lack of shoulder space, which means people walking and rolling are too close to vehicle traffic.

The combination of these access issues results in an uncomfortable -- and potentially dangerous -- traveling experience for people walking and rolling.

We will replace and widen the bridge to carry out our planned improvements which will include:

• Allowing for safer turning and merging at intersections for people driving.
• Making the bridge and intersection safer and more inviting for people walking, biking, and rolling.
• Updating the look of the bridge that complements existing designs along Vernon Avenue.

Widened sidewalks to improve access

We propose widening the sidewalks on Vernon Avenue from 4 feet to 12 feet to meet modern needs and provide ample space for people walking and rolling on the Vernon Avenue Bridge.

New sidewalks to improve pedestrian connections

We propose building new sidewalks where gaps currently exist between Arcadia Avenue and Highway 100 on-ramp. We also propose updating pedestrian ramps to meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards to improve accessibility. 

Realigned Highway 100 off-ramp connection

We propose requiring all traffic exiting Highway 100 to go to the signalized intersection to improve safety at and near the intersection. 

Dedicated left-turn lane to access Gus Young Lane

We propose reconfiguring westbound Vernon Avenue at the Interlachen Boulevard intersection to include dedicated left-turn and through lanes to provide safer and more efficient travel through the intersection. By removing stopped vehicles waiting to turn from through traffic, the number of possible crashes decreases by 50 percent on average.

The survey is currently closed for comment.

Thank you for taking the time to navigate through our virtual public meeting experience.

Stay up to date and connect with the project for more information by going to the project website and sign up to receive e-mail updates.

 www.hennepin.us/vernon-avenue 

For questions, contact the project team at  transportation@hennepin.us  or call 612-348-8448.