Minnesota Notes

[Rothman]

What's happening with the dairy queen at Century when the interchange is built?

My guess, based on what few renderings I've been able to locate, is that the DQ will be bought out for the ROW.

Wonder if it will be relocated as part of the taking.

[M86]

https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/beltline-loop-project-proposed-to-ease-st-cloud-traffic/?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_KSTP-TV&fbclid=IwY2xjawGAFdtleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHYkzao9tbGVJl9cFod33nojA1kk_rOJa2BI9ZfCzVc83cWT0N1NOtCHeVQ_aem__YARDC7Jwu5IaIIN1ME8Zw

A Saint Cloud beltline has been proposed. Looks like a good idea, but the first part studied was the southwest corridor—IMO where it's least needed.

Just curious, but where would you propose one? You have St. Joseph and Waite Park traffic going to the cities, so that makes sense.
I'm not overly familiar with St. Cloud itself, but drive by there frequently. It's the one city in Minnesota that will turn me around every time and I'll have to use navigation.

[Molandfreak]

https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/beltline-loop-project-proposed-to-ease-st-cloud-traffic/?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_KSTP-TV&fbclid=IwY2xjawGAFdtleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHYkzao9tbGVJl9cFod33nojA1kk_rOJa2BI9ZfCzVc83cWT0N1NOtCHeVQ_aem__YARDC7Jwu5IaIIN1ME8Zw

A Saint Cloud beltline has been proposed. Looks like a good idea, but the first part studied was the southwest corridor—IMO where it's least needed.

Just curious, but where would you propose one? You have St. Joseph and Waite Park traffic going to the cities, so that makes sense.
I'm not overly familiar with St. Cloud itself, but drive by there frequently. It's the one city in Minnesota that will turn me around every time and I'll have to use navigation.

What I would like to see in the area is similar to the proposal by @froggie posted here. My initial thoughts were a cost-cutter version of this plan ending at US 10 since that is a free-flowing expressway up to the TH 23 interchange anyway. Honestly, I don't know if the DOT has explored options similar to this in lieu of the proposed connection at Clearwater-Clear Lake, but this idea would have much more local benefit.

[bschultzy]

MnDOT officially scrapped the Our Streets alternative that would have replaced I-94 between the Minneapolis and St. Paul downtowns with a boulevard.

[Great Lakes Roads]

MnDOT officially scrapped the Our Streets alternative that would have replaced I-94 between the Minneapolis and St. Paul downtowns with a boulevard.

GOOD! Those alternatives were dumb for this corridor that carries a lot of traffic.

[mgk920]

MnDOT officially scrapped the Our Streets alternative that would have replaced I-94 between the Minneapolis and St. Paul downtowns with a boulevard.

GOOD! Those alternatives were dumb for this corridor that carries a lot of traffic.

Yea, four lanes each way.

Mike

[froggie]

MnDOT officially scrapped the Our Streets alternative that would have replaced I-94 between the Minneapolis and St. Paul downtowns with a boulevard.

FWIW, per the Strib article MnDOT also dropped the alternatives that added lanes to the entire corridor.  There's an alternative that would provide a consistent 8 lanes (3 GP and 1 Ho/T in each direction) but that's the outer extent of what's being considered.

I expect MnDOT to face a lawsuit now for dropping the non-freeway alternatives.

Yea, four lanes each way.

Of the alternatives remaining, the only one that will get you 4 lanes each way is the one I explained above:  3 GP lanes and 1 Ho/T lane.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

I can't find any national lists of these projects but MN's state senators announced at least two submitted projects were awarded federal funding under the Rural Surface Transportation Program:

-TH 5 four-lane expansion in Chanhassen and Victoria
-TH 19 reconstruction and center turn lane addition through Northfield west of TH 3

[Molandfreak]

I can't find any national lists of these projects but MN's state senators announced at least two submitted projects were awarded federal funding under the Rural Surface Transportation Program:

-TH 5 four-lane expansion in Chanhassen and Victoria
-TH 19 reconstruction and center turn lane addition through Northfield west of TH 3

No passing lane somewhere between Northfield and I-35? Lame.

[froggie]

-TH 5 four-lane expansion in Chanhassen and Victoria

Referring to this project, I'm presuming?

[Bickendan]

MnDOT officially scrapped the Our Streets alternative that would have replaced I-94 between the Minneapolis and St. Paul downtowns with a boulevard.

GOOD! Those alternatives were dumb for this corridor that carries a lot of traffic.

I could see an argument that the freeway should never have been built, but removing it is insane. Putting a cap over it to mitigate its noise and pollution effects and 'reclaiming' land that way, however... (I'd be surprised if that's one of the Alternatives).

[TheHighwayMan3561]

MnDOT officially scrapped the Our Streets alternative that would have replaced I-94 between the Minneapolis and St. Paul downtowns with a boulevard.

GOOD! Those alternatives were dumb for this corridor that carries a lot of traffic.

I could see an argument that the freeway should never have been built, but removing it is insane. Putting a cap over it to mitigate its noise and pollution effects and 'reclaiming' land that way, however... (I'd be surprised if that's one of the Alternatives).

The cap is pretty much the official position of the state at this point. Some extremist urbanists reject it, but they're not getting what they want.  Obviously different situations and a different era, but they can find examples of successful capping right in their own state.

https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-news/st-pauls-rondo-neighborhood-reconstruction-projects-receives-additional-funds