A multi-year project on one of the busiest roads in the north metro gets underway Thursday
The five-year $168.2-million project on Highway 65 focuses on safety and mobility. Minnesota Department of Transportation spokesperson Kent Barnard says a freeway design that includes interchanges will help curb frustrations felt by motorists stuck waiting at traffic lights.
He also says one of the biggest challenges along the corridor is simply getting across the highway.
"By taking out those at-grade intersections with the signal lights, for example, 109th Avenue, I use that quite regularly myself," Barnard says. "109th Avenue, you can sit there and wait, and wait, and wait, and wait. And then two or three cars will get through, or maybe four cars will get through, and the light changes. So people get very impatient waiting for that. So that kind of contributes to the issues."
This is a long project for MnDOT. Work is expected to continue over the next five years, wrapping up in 2030. Even though work begins this week, the biggest impacts are still a year away.
"As far as the major impact on traffic, that will be starting in 2027," Barnard adds.
This year’s work includes continuing utility relocation throughout the area (which began last year), widening the highway to carry traffic during the following years’ construction work and building crossovers to switch traffic and keep motorists moving during work at the intersections. Additionally, construction crews will work on frontage and backage roads on each side of Highway 65 and install storm sewer pipes to handle drainage along the highway. There will be some lane closures on Highway 65 and side streets will be closed and detoured while pipes are jacked beneath the road.
Barnard also says it is more than convenience, as safety is a main reason for turning Highway 65 into a freeway in Blaine.
"In addition to safety on Highway 65, we're looking at improving traffic flow, reducing congestion, and creating a longer lasting roadway out here," Barnard explains. "The project consists of building four overpasses or interchanges along Highway 65 between 99th Avenue and 121st Avenue, Paul Parkway."
Anoka County also has highway construction on 109th Avenue NE at Tournament Players Parkway and at Radisson Road (County Road 52) and there is construction along 105th Ave. between Radisson Road and Highway 65.
Bidding for the massive project came in around $12 million below the original $180 million estimate.
Summary of work
- Reconstruct Hwy 65 as a freeway-design with grade-separated interchanges at:
- 99th Ave.
- 105th Ave.
- 109th Ave.
- 117th Ave./Cloud Dr.
- Reroute existing local street/driveway connections using frontage/backage roads between 97th Ave. and 109th Ave.
- Reconstruct existing sidewalk along the roadway to meet Americans with Disability Act (ADA) standards.
