Funding Requested: $3,700,000
Total Project Cost: $32,700,000
Project Summary:
Primary concerns of the existing interchange and corridor are poor safety, operations, and limiting economic development and freight movements. The project will address frequent use of side streets and access points rather than the highway corridor, safety of the intersections, and lack of proper access to growing commercial/industrial land. Currently, intersections and segments throughout the project area suffer from frequent congestion and function at a Level of Service D or below. As Clearwater continues to grow in population, traffic will increase, solidifying the importance of the preferred layout which includes access management techniques to eliminate hazardous left-turn access points on uncontrolled, full-access driveways and side streets. Reconstruction of intersections will improve congestion at both intersections.
Background Information:
The proposed project is split into two phases. MnDOT will lead the I94 interchange and Wright County the CR 145 to CSAH 7 segment. In addition to safety benefits, the projects will result in clear and direct benefits to freight vehicles transporting agricultural and other industry products. Highway 24 through Clearwater serves as an important freight corridor for Minnesota, carrying 1,650 freight vehicles per day and transporting agricultural goods and products to and from the Twin Cities Metro, the St. Cloud Metropolitan Area, greater Minnesota, and both North and South Dakota by way of Interstate 94. The existing roadway is a bottleneck while carrying 16,200 vehicles per day with frequent congestion and multiple hazardous left-turn access points. The interchange area is also home to several overnight freight truck parking areas, creating additional traffic and increasing the importance of keeping this freight corridor in a state of good repair to prevent congestion and keep goods moving efficiently.
Relevant Documents:
Estimated Start Date: 06/01/2026
Estimated End Date: 08/01/2027
Account: Highway General Fund Programs
Program: Highway Infrastructure Programs
Recipient Point of Contact: Chad Hausmann
Recipient Legal Name: Wright County Highway Department
Recipient Address:
3600 Braddock Avenue Northeast
Buffalo, Minnesota 55313
Is the funding requested by a governmental or non-profit organization?: Government