State Bonding Bill Delivers Over $15 Million for West-Metro Infrastructure
The Minnesota Legislature passed a $1.2 billion state capital investment package at the end of the 2026 legislative session. Senator Ann Johnson Stewart secured $15.653 million from that package specifically for infrastructure projects in District 45.
The funding targets major local investments in the Lake Minnetonka area. In Spring Park, the state will fund the comprehensive 2026-2027 reconstruction of Sunset Drive, including mandatory water and sewer overhauls. In Minnetonka, the funding secures structural renovations for The Marsh health center and builds a new public plaza and trail connections at the Southwest Light Rail Transit Opus station.
“I am thrilled that we secured such a robust infrastructure bill this year to invest in shovel-ready projects that provide clean water, safer roads and modern classrooms at state colleges to Minnesotans across the state,” Johnson Stewart said following the passage of the capital investment package.
The Engineering Approach to Public Assets
Johnson Stewart is a professional civil engineer. She approaches state spending with a focus on asset management, which means fixing existing structures before they fail. Her stated goal is to use state partnerships to provide taxpayer protection, keeping the financial burden of major repairs off local residents.
“Concrete, pavements, steel, water — all those things that most of us take for granted,” Johnson Stewart has said, outlining her philosophy on municipal planning. “My background as a civil engineer means that I truly appreciate talking about infrastructure, planning, and how we build and maintain safe and livable communities”.
“With fiscal responsibility at the top of mind, we’ve delivered a bonding bill that will secure jobs, strengthen our economy, and support critical public works, transportation, housing, and water infrastructure for decades to come,” Walz said.
Local Lake Minnetonka-Area Projects
The funding targets local investments in the Lake Minnetonka area. These state dollars fix immediate infrastructure needs while creating jobs for local construction firms and laborers.
1. Spring Park Roadway and Utility Reconstruction
Through S.F. 4792, the state allocated $3,078,000 for street reconstruction and water main replacements along Sunset Drive in Spring Park. The work covers the corridor between Shoreline Drive (County Road 15) and Shadywood Road (County Road 19). Utility crews began preliminary work in June 2026, with full roadway reconstruction scheduled through 2027. The project replaces aging underground utilities and adds multi-modal trail access for pedestrians.
Spring Park Mayor Mark Chase stated that without this state partnership, moving forward with the water and sewer overhauls would “put a tax burden on the residents of Spring Park”.
2. Minnetonka Civic Asset Preservation
The bill also funds two major civic asset projects in Minnetonka. The first provides structural renovations to The Marsh health and wellness center. The second builds a new public gathering space adjacent to the Southwest Light Rail Transit Opus station. This includes a plaza, visitor parking, and trail extensions that connect the Opus area directly to the regional trail network.
The City of Minnetonka‘s official legislative report noted that securing state bonding support allows the city to complete these upgrades “as a way to fund improvements without raising local property taxes”. The specific appropriations are authorized under state files S.F. 215 and S.F. 216.