Shakopee Snapshot: Winter 2023-24

PUBLIC WORKS

Celebrating community connections Highway 169 Pedestrian Bridge open to the public

The new trail connection is especially exciting for biking enthusiasts who want to spend a day on the trails unfettered by Highway 169, with a stop at Xcel Energy Mountain Bike Park This project wouldn’t have been possible without the city’s commu nity partners, including Shakopee Public Schools, Shakopee Mde wakanton Sioux Community, Shakopee Chamber and Visitors Bureau, Scott County, the Minnesota Department of Transportation, Rep Brad Tabke, Sen Eric Pratt, and Rep Ben Bakeberg The city is espe cially grateful for a $2 million bonding grant from the state of Minne sota, which helped make this project possible

The Highway 169 Pedestrian Bridge opened to the public in October with a celebration among community members, biking enthusiasts, elected officials and city staff The pedestrian bridge eliminates a significant gap in the local and regional trail system, which was separated by Highway 169 The bridge connects the southern part of Shakopee, between the Southbridge and Dean Lakes neighborhoods, with the paved trail near Quarry Lake On the north side of the highway, the existing paved trail extends from Quarry Lake to the Minnesota Valley State Trail at Valleyfair

From left: Rep Brad Tabke, Scott County Commissioner Jody Brennan, City Councilor Jesse Lara, Mayor Matt Lehman, City Councilor Angelica Contreras, Sen Eric Pratt and good dog Misty, and City Councilor Jay Whiting prepare to cut the ribbon on the pedestrian bridge

Ribbon cutting attendees make their way across the bridge for the first time

Breaking the ice Embracing an eco-friendly approach to winter salt use

space between granules Consider purchasing a hand-held spreader to help you apply a consistent amount ■ Sweep up extra: If salt or sand is visible on dry pavement it is no longer doing any work and will be washed away Sweep up this salt or sand to use again later For more information about the city’s Storm Water Pollution Preven tion Plan, visit www.ShakopeeMN.gov/swppp

Keeping our driveways, sidewalks and streets clear of snow and ice is a top priority for safety While salt is effective at clearing snow and ice, it is also a permanent pollutant that impacts our water resources, including drinking water Just one teaspoon of salt permanently pollutes five gallons of water Reducing how much we use by even a little can be critical to helping protect our environment When salt is applied, it dissolves in the snow or ice it is intending to clear Once dissolved, it is carried as runoff to our lakes, streams, ponds and groundwater Once there, it has a variety of negative impacts on fish, aquatic bugs and other wildlife; ultimately, polluted water can affect our drinking water Follow these tips from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to reduce salt use: ■ Shovel: The more snow and ice you remove manually, the less salt you will need to use and the more effective it will be ■ 15 °F is too cold for salt: Most salts stop working at this temperature; use sand instead for traction but remember that sand does not melt ice ■ Apply less: More salt does not mean more melting Use less than four pounds of salt per 1,000 square feet One pound is approximately a 12-ounce coffee mug Leave about a 3-inch

The more snow and ice you remove manually, the less salt you’ll need to use

Winter 2023–24 11