Thanks to Clothesline Laundromat for their support.
Construction season is one again upon us, and here’s a run down of planned road projects in West St. Paul that could impact your ability to get around:
West St. Paul Road Construction List:
This is a list of the major projects planned for West St. Paul this season. It is not an all-encompassing list, as smaller projects can pop up without planning (like burst water mains). We’re only focusing on projects currently undergoing construction, not future planned projects (like the Delaware or Emerson).
Smith/Dodd Intersection Realignment
This is the big one. It’s been in the works since 2017 and got a boost with $3.1 million of federal funding in 2023.
- Where: The Smith/Dodd/Bernard intersection.
- When: Private utility work is expected to start the week of April 14.
Actual intersection work is expected to start around mid-May, though there’s no solid date yet.The intersection closure will start May 27. They hope to reopen the intersection in September. - What: Realigning the intersection by moving the traffic light south and removing a portion of Dodd Road (see a map below).
- Why: With at least 20 accidents between 2018 and 2022 and a crash index for Dodd and Bernard 2.5 times the national average, this tricky three-way intersection is getting a long-planned update to improve safety and walkability.
- What about: There haven’t been any official updates to the potential redevelopment of Doddway Center since it was first proposed in 2021. The intersection work is happening independently of any redevelopment. Planned park improvements—including an expanded Albert Park and a memorial for Police Officer Scott Patrick—will come in 2026.
- More info: See project details from West St. Paul and our past story on the project.
Butler Avenue Trail
- Where: Butler Avenue from Robert Street to Highway 52.
- When: Work is expected this year, though there’s no specific start time yet.
- What: Adding a trail on the south side of Butler Avenue from Robert to Sperl and the north side from Sperl to Waterloo. Also repaving Butler and making pedestrian improvements at the Sperl-Stassen/Butler intersection (entrance to Thompson Park).
- Why: This trail gap is identified on both city and county plans as a way to improve safety and increase access.
- More info: See project details from Dakota County and our past story on the project.
Bernard Reconstruction
- Where: Bernard from Oakdale to Waterloo.
- When: Utility work should start the week of April 14, with project work starting the week of May 5.
- What: Total reconstruction, including utility work, new curb and gutter, new sidewalk, and new street surface.
- Why: Have you driven on Bernard? This work was originally planned in 2018, but pushed back due to lack of funds.
- More info: See project details from West St. Paul and our past story on the project.
2025 Pavement Management Project
- Where: A series of residential streets between Charlton and Robert and Bernard and Butler.
- When: Utility work should start at the end of April or beginning of May, and no start date yet for the road work.
- What: Full depth reclamation project (not a full reconstruction, but more than a mill and overlay—see more on types of road work) that includes St. Paul Regional Water Services updating 43 homes with lead service lines at no charge to homeowners.
- More info: See project details from West St. Paul.
Oakdale Retaining Wall
- Where: Oakdale Avenue at Southview Country Club.
- When: Tree clearing in early April with actual work happening in summer.
- What: Adding a retaining wall along Southview Country Club. Work should require only a lane shift and not a closure.
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