My family and I walked west on Hayden Lake Road and across the new bridge or roadway connection, called Tilden Avenue. Although the weather was far from pleasing for a typical April afternoon, we enjoyed the views from the bridge, examined the massive equipment from a distance, and all wondered: When will the bridge will finally be completed and open?
According to the WSB & Associates‘ web site:
The City of Champlin, in partnership with Hennepin County and the Metropolitan Council of Environmental Services (MCES), will be completing construction of the improvements to Hayden Lake Road, French Lake Road, Vera Street, and Champlin Drive by early summer 2008. The new Tilden Avenue roadway connection, between Hayden Lake Road and French Lake Road, is scheduled to be completed by late June.
The three-span bridge was substantially completed in 2007, and it has a 12-foot path on the west side and 
an 8-foot sidewalk on the east side. Although it isn’t paved yet, we walked along the crushed rock imagining how much we’ll enjoy using the path later this summer.
“The proposed 8-foot bituminous trail along the west side of Tilden Avenue from Valley Forge Lane to Hayden Lake Road will be completed by July 1, 2008,” states the WSB web site. “The 8-foot trail, when completed, will extend from Valley Forge Lane to Cartway Road where it then narrows up to a 5-foot sidewalk down to Champlin Drive to complete the 
pedestrian connection along the project corridor.”
I don’t know about you, but we can’t wait!
For more information, visit WSB & Associates information-packed web site with updates and photos or contact the Champlin Deputy City Administrator John Cox at jcox@ci.champlin.mn.us or 763-923-7104.
The Champlin Connection 
