2011 Year in Review: Maple Grove Roads

Several major road projects nearly surrounded the borders of Maple Grove throughout most of 2011, including the extension of Highway 610 and Bass Lake Road reconstruction.

As road construction season began in Maple Grove in the spring, motorists were delayed by some traffic realignments and some roadwork was delayed due to rain related issues.   

A heavy rainfall the weekend of May 22 ended up of stockpiled material on County Road 81, part of the Highway 610 project. As crews cleaned the debris and relocated the dirt, all or portions of County Road 81 were closed for several weeks. Traffic detoured onto nearby Fernbrook Lane and County Road 30 caused delays and traffic jams for motorists traveling through the area. With cleanup complete, County Road 81 at the end of June.

The , aimed at changing a major Maple Grove roadway into a four-lane street from Vicksburg Lane to County Road 101, had multiple realignment phases throughout the year as work continued on the roadway. Motorists experienced some road closures, lane shifts and changes as work moved forward to finish the project in 2012. Once again, rainfall delayed work on another road project in 2011. Instead of a mudslide, above average rainfall on the Bass Lake Road project in June.

Mother Nature wasn’t the only delay experienced by crews working on road construction projects in Maple Grove during the year. A brought the Highway 610 project expansion project, which was about a month from completion, to a halt July 1. Zachary Lane, which had been closed to traffic for about two months, just a day before shutdown occurred. The Bass Lake Road project . 

After the 20-day shutdown was over, work continued on the Highway 610 extension, complete with a ribbon-cutting opening Aug. 17, which included attendance by local and state officials as well as community members.

Other Maple Grove road related items that make the news in 2011:

• have hit the streets of three Hennepin County roads located in Maple Grove and Plymouth.

• Two locations were approved, including all way stop signs near the Maple Grove Library.

• were approved near Basswood Elementary.

• were approved on Zachary Lane.

Editor's note: What do you think was the top road story for Maple Grove in 2011? Share your top pick in comments.