Highway 101 Causeway Reconstruction Project
Overview
In 2016, Hennepin County carried out road construction on Highway 101/Bushaway Road to add turn lanes and a bicycle/walking path. Highway 101 crosses Lake Minnetonka between Gray’s Bay and Wayzata Bay, so the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) recognized the opportunity to capitalize on the county’s construction work by protecting and improving shoreline along the road. MCWD worked with Hennepin County to reconstruct the shoreline and add native vegetation, which reduces erosion, absorbs stormwater, provides wildlife habitat, beautifies the roadway, and reduces the risk of lake waves freezing on the road during winter months.
As part of this project, MCWD also partnered with the City of Minnetrista to carry out a separate wetland restoration, fulfilling a floodplain permit requirement related to the Highway 101 causeway project. This restoration, on a city-owned parcel along Jennings Bay near Painter Creek, increases water storage in case of flooding, and will help the city meet permitting requirements for future projects.
Project Timeline
Planning Phase
Planning Phase
May 2014 — MCWD and Hennepin County sign a cooperative agreement for a shoreline restoration along CSAH 101 on Wayzata Bay
October 2014 — MCWD and City of Minnetrista sign a cooperative agreement for a wetland restoration/floodplain mitigation project along Jennings Bay
March 2015 — Project ordered through MCWD Board Resolution 15-029
Design Phase
Design Phase
April 2016 — Design phase for the Highway 101 shoreline restoration begins
June 2016 — Design phase for the Jennings Bay wetland restoration begins
August 2016 — Design for the Highway 101 shoreline restoration and Jennings Bay wetland restoration completed
Construction Phase
Construction Phase
November 2016 — Shoreline construction and wetland restoration begins
June 2017 — Shoreline construction and wetland restoration ends
Project completion
Project Completion
2017 — Project completed
By the Numbers
900
feet
of shoreline restored
350
trees & Shrubs
planted
775
plants
added
1,364
cubic yards
of flood storage created
1
acre
of wetland restored
Project Highlights
- Naturalized and stabilized shoreline
- Habitat enhancement
- Stormwater management
- Floodplain storage created
- Model for future roadway projects
Partnership
MCWD worked closely with Hennepin County and the City of Minnetrista to identify and meet the goals of multiple communities that depend on this road for regular transportation.
Funding
Project Cost: $983,078
This project was supported with collaborative funding from Hennepin County, the City of Minnetrista, and MCWD.
