Water Well Project Could Cause Traffic Issues In Woodbury

WOODBURY, MN — Drivers could experience traffic headaches and delays near the Tamarack Nature Preserve over the next month as the city works to get compromised municipal water wells back in service for the summer, according to officials.

The width of Tower Drive was reduced Monday just north of Valley Creek Road so crews can install municipal water-main piping that will enable them to connect additional water supply wells to the city’s water treatment plant, officials said.

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They hope that will allow them to bring those wells, which were removed after health advisories were issued due to “forever chemicals” in the water they produced, back into service ahead of summer, a high-peak water-use season, officials said.

Woodbury crews have been working to expand capacity at the temporary water treatment plant near the intersection of Valley Creek Road and Tower Drive to help bolster the city’s water-use capacity with several wells out of service.

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Officials were forced to take yet another municipal well out of service Feb. 28 after the Minnesota Department of Health issued an advisory due to traces of PFAS — per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the well's water.

It was the second Woodbury water removed from service in 2022.

Nine of Woodbury's 19 municipal water wells have been removed from service after MDH health advisories for detectable levels of PFAS above the department's thresholds, city officials said.

Four were returned to service in June 2020 with help from the new, temporary water treatment plant, according to officials.

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The plant could be required for more than five years as the city works to build a long-term treatment facility near Hargis Parkway and Radio Drive, officials said.

The city is also closing a section of the trail along the east side of Tower Drive and Woodpark Boulevard during the pipe-installation project. The trail will be closed from Valley Creek Road to north of the treatment plant entrance.

The Tamarack Nature Preserve is expected to remain open throughout the project, though its parking lot may close temporarily.

Officials said city crews will work to ensure the nature preserve is “fully protected from construction impacts.”

The project and its effects on local traffic are expected to last about a month, officials said Monday.