MINNEAPOLIS — It's been said road projects bring people together.
That was definitely the case Thursday afternoon in Blaine, where a bipartisan group of state and local elected leaders marked a milestone in the Thrive on 65 Project. It's the culmination of a seemingly endless endeavor to remake an accident-prone stretch of Minnesota Highway 65.
"It's just an amazing day for the city of Blaine, to have this realization that this road will get the safety upgrades that it so needs and so deserves," Mayor Tim Sanders told a crowd that gathered in a tent near the highway on a what was a blustery afternoon.
"To be able to serve the North Metro, to be the gateway of the North we are truly grateful!"
The $200 million project will overhaul a stretch of Highway 65 where the rate of serious accidents is eight times that of the average state highway. The corridor carries as much traffic as I-35W. But, unlike a real interstate, it has stop lights and intersections that rank among the most dangerous in the state based on accident counts.
As part of the project four busy intersections -- where the highway crosses 99th Ave., 105th Ave., 109th Ave., and 117th Ave. -- will be converted to overpasses. Frontage roads and bicycle and pedestrian pathways will be added to the thoroughfare.
Rep. Frank Hornstein, who chairs the House Transportation Committee, said he's been hearing about the problems on Highway 65 since he joined the legislature 22 years ago. But this year the stars finally aligned, for a mix of surplus money and bonding funds, to complete the state's $146 million share of the project. The remainder will be financed with federal dollars.
"This is a really big deal! A really big deal!" Rep. Hornstein told the crowd. "But also, the pedestrian safety, the bike safety, plus you're also making it a transit corridor. This is the future of transportation and it's on display right here in Blaine!"
Gov. Tim Walz said Minnesota has a tradition of investing in infrastructure, noting that the state has the fourth highest number of highway miles eclipsed only by California, Texas, and New York.
"It's not just the 72,000 people who live here, but 5.8 million Minnesotans will benefit from this. It's a major artery!"
He thanked Blaine's legislative delegation for their persistence during a very crowded legislative session during which many communities were competing for the same pot of transportation dollars.
Republican Sen. Michael Kreun said fixing Highway 65 was the main reason he ran for state senate, and he feels honored to be part of the large group of players who helped make it a reality.
"I moved to Blaine 21 years ago and I distinctly remember driving up Highway 65. I remember turning to my wife and saying, 'I wonder when they're going to fix this highway'!"
Democrat Rep. Matt Norris said people at the Capitol probably became exhausted hearing him promote the Highway 65 project.
"Governor, you mentioned that every time I saw you, I'd talk about it. My colleagues, I know they got sick and tired of hearing me talk about Highway 65."
Republican Rep. Nolan West said it was important that the north metro's traffic woes get some attention.
"You've got to understand the frustrations we all felt dealing with this total nightmare," Rep. West said, gesturing in the direction of the highway.
"And then we watch the South Metro, the pretty people in the South Metro, get all these fancy roads while we have to live with this disaster behind us here!"
Construction is slated to begin in 2025 and last at least three years. Between now and then engineers will be finalizing the designs while agencies finish buying the property they'll need for the right-of-way along the highway.
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