US 169 Rural Safety and Mobility Interchange Project

This project will improve accessibility and mobility to rural Minnesota, increase safety, and improve a major freight corridor, with significant benefit to the Minnesota economy.

The US 169 Rural Safety and Mobility Interchange Project will reconstruct approximately one mile of US169 from a rural four-lane undivided-highway to a four-lane divided expressway and construct an interchange at CR 4. The proposed project will focus on safety and operational improvements that will improve reliability, accommodate planned long-term growth, improve bicycle and pedestrian connectivity, and connect rural communities in the Greater Central Minnesota Region to economic opportunities in the Twin Cities. The project will minimize right-of-way impacts to residences along US169 and impacts to wetland resource.

• The intersection presents serious safety issues. Between 2009-2020, it experienced 4 fatal/severe crashes and 66 total reported crashes.
• The crash rate on US169 at CR4 is 1.9 crashes per million vehicles: over the statewide average. 
• Both the crash rate and crash severity rate are 5x’s higher than the state's average. 
• The project will save $262,000/year in crash cost.
• Based on FHWA and MnDOT’s review, the Project will immediately generate 242 new job opportunities.
• 78.2% of Sherburne County residents travel outside of the County for work, averaging 25-50-mile commutes; reduced congestion results in reduced commute times.
• The roadway carries over 3,500 trucks/day, significantly exceeding typical truck percentages on most state highways.
• By 2034, the Central Minnesota Freight Study projected significant growth; if we do nothing, future traffic will see back-ups over 8 miles.

• Sherburne County Proposal
• Congressman Emmer Financial Disclosure

• Letters of Support

Sherburne County

13880 Business Center Drive NW

Elk River, MN 55330