Road Construction Creating ‘More Challenging’ Driving Conditions

(This story is written by Lakeville Police Chief Thomas Vonhof.)

The old saying that there are only two seasons in Minnesota, winter and road construction, has never been more accurate than this year in Lakeville. Motorists have been challenged this year with an extremely long winter snow season with our last heavy snowfall coming at the  beginning of May and going right into one of the most widespread roadway construction seasons for our community in many years. The State of Minnesota, Dakota County and the City of Lakeville all have roadway projects going on in Lakeville this season that will improve our roadways, but will create more challenging driving conditions for motorists until the projects are completed.

The State of Minnesota has been working on Interstate 35W and 35E on resurfacing and a bridge project in the area that started as soon as the snow was gone and will last until this fall. Later in the summer, I-35 will be reduced to one lane in each direction through Lakeville as part of the roadway resurfacing project. Dodd Boulevard is undergoing construction from 183rd Street to 175th Street to install a roundabout at the intersection of Dodd Boulevard and Highview Avenue and to improve Dodd Boulevard to a four-lane roadway in that area. Another roundabout is being installed at Kenrick Avenue and 205th Street. In addition, there are a couple of significant neighborhood street reconstruction projects in the Clays Acres and Valley Park neighborhoods that are being completed this summer.

As a motorist, the best thing to do is to plan ahead and leave ample time for your trip, whether it is just to stop at a store down the street or if you are going across town. Once you know that a roadway you normally travel on is closed for construction, you should determine where the designated detour is and take that route. When you come up to a roadway construction zone, reduce your speed and remain alert for the safety of those workers out on the roadway. If you come up to a “Road Closed” barricade, do not drive around it; look for the sign directing you to the detour route. It is dangerous to drive into an active construction zone and also illegal to drive around barricades.

LPD OFFICERS AND LFD FIREFIGHTERS VISIT MIRACLE FIELD
Last Sunday, dayshift Sergeant Jason Polinski received a request from an attendee at the South Metro Miracle League World Series baseball game at King Park to have an officer stop by and meet with some of the children.

Sergeant Polinski spoke with his patrol team and they coordinated their time when there were no calls, so that they could allstop by the Miracle Field at one time. He also contacted the Lakeville Fire Department and, on very short notice, two LFD fire engines with eight firefighters stopped by with the patrol squads to meet with the children.

According to Sergeant Polinski, it was a great surprise to the kids and families present who enjoyed getting to see the squads and fire engines and to have the opportunity to meet the officers and the firefighters.

Weekly LPD Snapshot
Sampling of LPD activity for the week of July 17 – 24, 2013

Traffic crashes 5 Alarms 29 Animal Calls 33