Posted on February 19, 2026 at 2:06 PM by Eric Wilson
MnDOT has completed a planning study for an 18-mile stretch of Hwy 7 from St. Bonifacius to Hopkins. The study was conducted to understand travel experiences of those walking, biking and driving on Hwy 7, identify the needs in the study area, and inform future transportation safety and mobility improvements on Hwy 7. The recommendations from this study will inform the design of a pavement resurfacing project planned for 2029 from the Hennepin/Carver County line in St. Bonifacius to Christmas Lake Rd. in Shorewood/Greenwood. Over the past two years, MnDOT worked with local partners and heard from community members to understand transportation needs and identify opportunities for future improvements.
Recommended improvements
MnDOT used current conditions of the highway, study needs and public input to develop a range of improvement ideas or concepts. They collected input on these ideas from the public. Using public input and evaluation criteria concepts were refined to those most likely to meet the needs. Recommended improvements include:
- Segment 1 recommendation (Hwy 7 from the Hennepin/Carver County line in St. Bonifacius to Hwy 41 in Shorewood): a series of roundabouts to improve safety and traffic flow
- Segment 2 recommendation (Hwy 7 from Hwy 41 in Shorewood to the Baker Rd. interchange in Minnetonka): a hybrid design with roundabouts and grade-separated intersections to provide long-term mobility
More Information
- Read more about the study findings, recommendations and next steps on the study website.
- For more information about the study, visit the Hwy 7 study webpage
- MnDOT representatives attended the January 26 City Council Meeting to present the corridor study findings. The video is available on LMCC's website (presentation begins at 40:34)