Improvements Coming To Canterbury Road In 2021

Press release from the City of Shakopee:

December 15, 2020

A main Shakopee thoroughfare is getting major improvements as part of a $15.2 million reconstruction project to improve safety for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians.

In 2021, Scott County plans to reconstruct Highway 83 (Canterbury Road) between Fourth Avenue and Highway 169. The improvements will address existing operational and safety issues, as well as better support redevelopment along the corridor.

Trails will be added on both sides of the highway between Fourth Avenue and the Highway 169 intersection, closing several gaps in the city’s trail system.

“This is a significant north-south corridor for the city, and we are missing vital sidewalk and trail connections,” said Assistant City Engineer Ryan Halverson. The trails will connect to the new 12th Avenue trail that runs east to Quarry Lake Park and complete the pedestrian network in the area.

Canterbury Road is an important freight route, providing access to the Valley Green Industrial Park. Plans call for reducing access points and adding new turn lanes to ease congestion between Highway 169 and 12th Avenue.

The project will add a second right turn lane to the southbound 169 ramp and several turn lanes at 12th Avenue. Halverson said the city is also working to address congestion issues on 12th Avenue east of 83 with an improved layout and driveway access management.

Canterbury Park will have a new racing and event access at Unbridled Avenue, a new public road constructed this summer north of the park. A digital messaging sign will be installed to assist with event traffic and improved wayfinding signage will guide motorists through the area.

Also included in the project are upgrades to beautify the corridor by adding vegetation and undergrounding overhead utility lines to create a more attractive corridor. “We want Canterbury Road to not only drive better, but also to welcome visitors to our community,” Halverson said.

While the project was spurred in large part by the Canterbury Commons development, Halverson said the city and county have studied the corridor many times over the years. It builds on recent city-county improvements in the area. A portion of the project will be funded from the Canterbury Common TIF District.

This press release was produced by the City of Shakopee. The views expressed here are the author’s own.