Summer construction includes maintenance, bond-funded projects

The summer construction season is beginning and there will be projects all around the district. Many are part of the district’s 10-year facilities plan and are designed to complete needed maintenance and replacements at facilities on a schedule that manages budget and allows for needed space for summer programming.

Some of this year’s projects are funded by the $7 million bond issue approved by voters in May 2021. Work at Creek Valley Elementary will create a dedicated bus drop off zone, improving safety for cars, pedestrians and bike riders. Asphalt work at Valley View Middle School will redesign the parking lot entry point, internal flow and address the physical deterioration of the lot, as well as replace lighting. This work will include the frontage road along the west side fields.

A bond-funded addition to the south end of the bus garage will complete the original building design and build out the facility to capacity. The new space will include five bus bays, allowing for expansion in the current facility for heated stalls for special education buses. (Countryside Elementary’s bond-funded traffic improvements are slated for next summer.)

As part of on-going maintenance, new dynamic signs will be installed at EHS, Valley View, Normandale, Creek Valley and Cornelia. These are two-sided, programmable, LED lit signs to be located in a similar area as the current signs.

Be sure to watch for signage around buildings and information to come from summer teachers and program leaders in case there are changes to the normal traffic flow and building entry. Note these key closures:

• All EHS west entrances, including EPAC, will be closed for the summer. The main entrance for summer will be Door 15 on the east side of the building.

• The Green Lot, between ECC and South View, will be a construction staging area and construction parking zone during the summer. Visitors to the ECC and District Office are advised to park in the Gold Lot (near the stadium) or the Red Lot (across the street from the ECC).

Construction of classrooms and spaces for the new Spanish Immersion Program at Countryside Elementary is slated to begin in the fall.

Here is a round-up of some of the other key summer construction projects:

Edina Community Center

• Replacement of single-pane windows throughout building

• West side of building (Normandale): Replacement of Door 1, sidewalk, stairs and ramp

• Roof replacement over east wing

• Boiler replacement

• Replacement of Door 4 and loading dock (Deliveries will be re-routed to Doors 2 or 3)

• Exterior brickwork/tuck pointing

Edina High School

• Roof replacement over east side of building

• Valley View parking lot replacement will include frontage road along west side fields. West side entry doors will be closed all summer.

Valley View Middle School

In addition to parking lot project mentioned above:

• Replacement of acoustic panels in auditorium and music room

• Boiler replacement

South View Middle School

• Replacement of auditorium stage floor

• Exterior brickwork/tuck pointing

Concord Elementary

• Window replacements

• Lighting improvements

• Exterior brickwork/tuck pointing

Highlands Elementary

• Installation of traffic gate to separate the asphalt play area from parking lot