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Flying Cloud Drive reconstruction

County Road 61 in Eden Prairie and Chanhassen

Hennepin County, in coordination with MnDOT, Carver County, and the cities of Eden Prairie and Chanhassen, is reconstructing Flying Cloud Drive (County Road 61) between Highway 101 and Charlson Road.

The new roadway will improve the driving surface and safety along the corridor. The road will be raised above the 100-year flood plain to help minimize the potential for road closures during Minnesota River flood events. The project will also add a multi-use trail along the north side of the road that will fill the gap in the trail network from Shakopee to Eden Prairie.

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Construction updates

Traffic information and access

Flying Cloud Drive anticipated to reopen week of November 25

Flying Cloud Drive will reopen to through traffic between Highway 101 and Spring Road the week of November 25.

For the next few weeks people driving will continue to use:

  • Highway 101
  • Pioneer Trail (Hennepin County Road 1/Carver County Road 14)
  • Flying Cloud Drive

People will continue to be able to access local businesses, restaurants, the spring, employers and the airport during both stages of road closures. View the Stage 2 detour (PDF).

People can also access the Richard T. Anderson Conservation Area from the north. More information and a map can be found on the Eden Prairie website.

By the end of November, we anticipate the project to be approximately 90 percent complete. It will be one lane for each direction of traffic. However, lane restrictions and short-term closures are expected when crews return in spring 2020 to finish work.

Speed reduction

Please note, the speed limit has been lowered from 55 to 45 miles per hour on Flying Cloud Drive between Highway 101 and Charlson Road.

Construction staging and status

The project is being completed in two stages. Both stages include full closures to through traffic. The closures are needed due to the work area — including steep bluffs and nearby wetlands — and to complete the project within the schedule. Local access will be maintained for residents and businesses.

Stage 1 is now reopened

Flying Cloud Drive has reopened from Charlson Road to Spring Road.

Work completed during the first stage included:

  • Reconstructed the Riley Creek Bridge
  • Reconstructed Flying Cloud Drive between Spring Road and Charlson Road
  • Built retaining walls
  • Realigned Spring Road and paving the new road for a smoother ride

flying cloud drive stage 1 road improvements
Reopened segment from Stage 1 near Charlson Road.

Stage 2 to last through November 2019

The second stage will take between 12 and 14 months to complete. It involves working on Flying Cloud Drive from Spring Road and Highway 101.

flying cloud drive retaining wall
Concrete facing along retaining wall East of Riley Creek. 2019 work will include painting and adding railing along the top.

Project information

This section of Flying Cloud Drive (County Road 61) is a turnback from Minnesota Department of Transportation in 2009 and was previously known as Highway 212.

Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) approval

In May 2014, Hennepin County provided a draft EAW for public comment. After the public comment concluded, staff reviewed comments and provided responses. The responses can be found in the Finding of Fact and Conclusion document below.

Nearby related project

Carver County and the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) recently completed construction of the Carver County Road 101 and Flying Cloud project. This project includes a new bridge on Highway 101 between Chanhassen and Shakopee. For more details on the project visit the MnDOT 101/61 Southwest reconnection project webpage.

Public involvement

Previous events

Construction kick-off event

Hennepin County and Ames staff held an open house March 2, 2018 at Eden Prairie City Center. Materials from the open house are attached below:

Design outreach

Hennepin County also held open houses in April, August and December 2013 for the project. In addition county staff has met with individual property owners along the corridor to discuss the project.

Project leadership and partners

Hennepin County

Carver County

City of Eden Prairie

City of Chanhassen

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