urbanMSP

Announcement today about full funding for the expansion of Hwy 610 from CSAH 81 to I-94.

Dayton and Transportation Commissioner Zelle announced $300 million for road improvements state-wide today.
http://www.startribune.com/local/231954591.html

$300 Million Program Will Boost Highway Capacity, Improve Freight Movement Statewide

ST. PAUL, MN – Governor Mark Dayton and the Minnesota Department of Transportation announced today that ten highway construction projects will receive funding through the state’s new $300 million Corridors of Commerce program. The projects will strengthen Minnesota’s transportation system by adding capacity and improving the movement of freight across the state.

Here's the link to the press release from MnDOT: http://mn.gov/governor/newsroom/pressre ... =102-93794

Biggest highlights for the metro:
1. Additional lanes on I-94 from MN 101 to MN 241
2. 610 extension from CSAH 81 to I-94

Both are slated to start construction in 2014.

Hooray?

Nearly all of this is exurban or rural capacity improvement. Gross.

Well, while I'm not a big fan of the Pawlenty Highway at least they *are* finishing it so it can serve a useful purpose. It's been kind of an odd hanger-on, partially finished, with swaths of empty land and projects around it in limbo.

It's about time!

Also of note, two projects on US 14, a new freeway alignment from Dodge Center to Owatonna, and four laning the existing alignment from Mankato to Nicollet, with a freeway bypass of Nicollet. Mn/DOT claims they have no money for meaningful expansion, which is true in the sense of their regular funding, but "pop-up-funds" like this keep materializing.

though I'm not super into highway expansion, completing 610 makes a lot of sense. I grew up in maple grave, and am there frequently. 610 is very convenient especially because it's underutilized. I can really see a connection to 94 making this a worth while investment and benefiting a lot of drivers. right now it essential dead ends in a field lol.

There is a good likelihood it will improve the Fish Lake interchange congestion. Is this the last of the "promised, started, and unfinished" highways in the state? Are there other proposed highways where ROW is being acquired but construction is far off?

There is a good likelihood it will improve the Fish Lake interchange congestion. Is this the last of the "promised, started, and unfinished" highways in the state? Are there other proposed highways where ROW is being acquired but construction is far off?

Does Ayd Mill count? The unfinished 610 has always reminded me of Ayd Mill. I'm glad to see this completed.

Anyone else see the completion of 610 exacerbating congestion on I-94 west of their interchange? Seems like people already whine about congestion there, inducing a bunch more trips will not make things less whine-worthy.

I think it will ease the congestion at 494/694/94. I assume most that would end up on 610 to 94 would be changing from currently using 694 to 94. North of the new 610 will likely be similar to current levels.

There was also a listing to add a third lane in each direction between 101 and 241. But then it seems like the pinch point would be the six lanes between 101 and 610.

That whole section of freeway north of and including the 494-694 split needs to be rebuilt. But we will have to see how much traffic counts change once 610 taken away some of the northbound traffic that might be heading to Duluth and other cities to the north from 94/694. Hopefully it will allow for better traffic pattern studies and if there will need to be any other future exits being built into the system during the rebuild. This is all short term solutions to help keep commerce flowing better and allow for better planning in the future for improvements.

As with most of these sprawl-freeway-projects, you'll see short-term easing of congestion, followed by decades of just-as-bad congestion (spread out over a larger area) due to induced demand from the new capacity.

That is the big problem, instead of multiple ways to leave a company warehouse we all funnel onto one road. We rarely use state or county highways as a way to get way from the congestion. I no longer get on the freeway to get from MPLS to St. Paul. I find alternative route that at rush hour always are faster than 94's back up.

To answer the question about potential major new highways lurking in the shadows- the new MN 24 and MN 41 river crossings are the two that are new freeways on new alignment. I don't know if any ROW has actually been bought, but it's being preserved.

Well, while I'm not a big fan of the Pawlenty Highway at least they *are* finishing it so it can serve a useful purpose. It's been kind of an odd hanger-on, partially finished, with swaths of empty land and projects around it in limbo.

610 is the "Pawlenty Highway"? In what way?

I remember my parents taking us for a drive on the new leg of it back in 1999 or 2000 - WAYYYYY before Pawlenty was the "Guvner".

Molnau Highway is more like it. Carol Molnau was lieutenant governor and MNDOT chieftan under TPAW. She sold the family farm to expand the highway across it.

Wrong highway. That was in the SW metro, hwy 212.

Oooo, you're right. Carry on.

http://www.startribune.com/local/west/15909507.html

Most of 610 thru BP, west of 252, was done under The Pawlenty administration. The eastern section and the 610 bridge were done under other administrations.