Mill Street pathway project

County Road 82 in Excelsior and Shorewood

Hennepin County, in coordination with the cities of Excelsior, Shorewood and Chanhassen, is leading a project to construct a multi-use pathway alongside Mill Street (County Road 82) from 2nd Street in downtown Excelsior to Holly Lane. The pathway will provide a key connection for users of the existing Chanhassen pathway through Shorewood to downtown Excelsior and create a safer way to walk, bike or roll along Mill Street.

Construction is anticipated to begin in 2026.

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Final design

Our final design includes safety improvements on Mill Street/Powers Boulevard for people that walk, bike, and roll. These improvements include:

A shared-use path along the east side of Mill Street
A button-activated flashing light at 3rd Street in Excelsior to make crossing the road safer for people accessing the regional trail

We are also repaving the road with one lane of traffic in each direction, adding four-foot paved shoulders in Chanhassen and Shorewood, replacing curbs and gutters, and updating the storm sewer design to improve drainage on Mill Street/Powers Boulevard.

See the project layout (PDF)

Utilities

We are working with both private utility companies and city utility services to address any conflicts with the proposed design. We will relocate many utility poles on the east side of the road to the future grass boulevard between the trail and road.

Tree removals

While working to reduce tree impacts as much as possible, we will need to remove some trees for the project. Tree removals will begin in winter 2025-2026 ahead of construction in spring 2026.

Public engagement

Community engagement goals and updates

The project aimed to achieve the following during our engagement efforts:

Identify and evaluate pathway options
Seek public feedback to help determine the preferred pathway option
Create an initial pathway design and high-level cost estimate

Engagement opportunities

Our team remains dedicated to gathering feedback about the various ways people use Mill Street today and how they would use a multi-use pathway. We hosted two events in the community in early 2023 and have been out talking to residents along the corridor throughout the process. Your feedback helped to shape the project and allowed project staff to refine the potential designs.

You can learn more about our engagement work in phase 1 and what members of the community have shared by reading our engagement summary.

Phase 1 Engagement overview (PDF)

Past events

A neighborhood pop-up at Excelsior Brewing Company and an open house at St. John's Montessori Gathering Place in August 2023.

A neighborhood pop up at Excelsior Elementary and an open house at St. John's Montessori School in April 2023.

An open house in April 2019.

Project leadership

Hennepin County

Tim Bruers, P.E.
Project manager (design)
timothy.bruers@hennepin.us
612-596-0393

Colin Cox
Media contact
colin.cox@hennepin.us
612-596-7426

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