Funding Requested: $7,000,000
Total Project Cost: $47,757,000
Project Summary:
Anoka County, in partnership with MnDOT and the Cities of Ham Lake and Blaine, are working to implement a new interchange at Highway 65 and Bunker Lake Boulevard. The project would elevate Highway 65 over Bunker Lake Boulevard, adding a roundabout between the on and off ramps and enhanced multi-use trail connections along Bunker Lake Boulevard. Improvements to the local roadway system will address the necessary Highway 65 access closures. The new interchange would significantly reduce dangerous conflict points between local and state highway traffic that has resulted in seventy crashes, including one fatality, in the last five years.
Background Information:
Highway 65 is a vital arterial roadway in Anoka County serving as the only continuous north/south corridor of its size and capacity between the Twin Cities urban core and the county’s northern suburban communities. This places high demand for regional travel on Highway 65 at the expense of local community access and safety. Highway 65 carries 46,000 vehicles and 3,000 trucks daily, highlighting its critical role in the transportation system. Today, Highway 65 in the project area is a significant barrier for all modes of travel. During peak hours, congestion and backups drastically impact mobility. On Highway 65, average travel speeds range from 22 to 25 miles per hour on the 65-mph highway, indicating excessive delay. Local traffic waits up to 10 minutes to cross or enter Highway 65 due to high traffic volumes and excessive delay. Without improvement, congestion is expected to nearly double during peak hour travel time from 24 minutes to 40 minutes by 2045.
Relevant Documents:
Estimated Start Date: 10/01/2024
Estimated End Date: 11/01/2029
Account: Highway General Fund Programs
Program: Highway Infrastructure Programs
Recipient Point of Contact: Joe MacPherson
Recipient Legal Name: Anoka County
Recipient Address:
2100 3rd Avenue
Anoka, Minnesota 55303
Is the funding requested by a governmental or non-profit organization?: Government