Regional Sewer Construction to Temporarily Close County Road 96

Closure Re-Scheduled to Friday, October 27

ST. PAUL – Oct. 26, 2006 – The closure of a short section of County Road 96 in White Bear Lake for regional sewer construction has been re-scheduled for this weekend. The closure was originally set for last weekend, but was postponed due to needed repairs on construction equipment.

County Road 96 between Highway 61 and First Avenue in White Bear Lake will close from 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27, until as late as 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 30. During the closure, Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES), operator of the regional wastewater collection and treatment system, will move 3,000 feet of new sanitary sewer pipe across the surface of County Road 96 and install it under Bald Eagle Avenue to the north.

In the event of additional construction delays, the road closure would be postponed until the following weekend during the same time frame. Watch local traffic control signs for up-to-date information.

During the closure, through traffic on eastbound County Road 96 will be detoured south on Otter Lake Road, east on Scheuneman Road, north on Hoffman Road, and north on Highway 61. (County Road 96 will be open to local traffic, but there will be no access to Highway 61.) Westbound through traffic on County Road 96 will be detoured south on Highway 61, south on Hoffman Road, west on Scheuneman Road, and north on Otter Lake Road.

The new regional sanitary sewer will provide additional capacity to handle peak wastewater flows and increased daily flows due to additional growth in the northeast metro area. The sewer will divert some of the flow from an existing regional sewer located east of Bald Eagle Lake in White Bear Township to another MCES sewer located near Whitaker Street and Lincoln Avenue (near the Public Works Garage) in the City of White Bear Lake.

The Metropolitan Council is the regional planning organization for the seven-county Twin Cities area. It runs the regional bus and light rail system, collects and treats wastewater, manages regional water resources, plans regional parks and administers funds that provide housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income individuals and families. The Council is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the governor. MCES, an operating division of the Metropolitan Council, provides wastewater services that protect the public health and environment while supporting regional growth.

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