The Minnesota Department of Transportation, led by Lt. Governor Carol Molnau, announced its plans yesterday on how it will spend $825,000,000 on new and improved roads. You can find the enitre report and news release on the plans at the MnDOT website.
Boy, did we ever make out well. By my count, about 45% of that $825 million dollar budget will go towards road projects that directly benefit the citizens of Eden Prairie.
First of all, the State’s largest single road investment will be the completion of the divided four lane portion of 212 from Hennepin County Road 4 in Eden Prairie to Carver County Road 147 in Norwood Young America. This project has been budgeted at $225 million. It had been on MnDOT’s list for construction in 2013. It will now begin construction in 2005. We will all need to get used to calling this road 312 in the future, but more on the in the future.
Next, we will see a major improvement to 494. The 3rd land project that you see under construction right now between Eden Prairie and Bloomington will be continued through EP and on up to 394 in Minnetonka. This proejct was originally scheduled for 2011-2012. Now it’s scheduled for 2004. That’s just next year.
Finally, the budget includes funding for the construction of grade separated freeway interechanges on Hwy. 169 at Anderson Lakes Parkway and Highwood Drive. I’m still unsure about whether this project includes the Pioneer Trail intersection, but I’m looking into that. This project was originally scheduled for construction in 2009-2013. Now it’s scheduled for 2006. This project will make this part of Hwy. 169 function more like a true freeway, improving both safety and convenience for drivers.
Eden Prairie elected officials have been advocating for these road projects for a long, long time. There are a number of people who deserve credit for this coup. I’ll start with our state elected officials: Rep. Erik Paulsen, Rep. Peter Adolphson, and Sen. David Hann. I know they worked hard for these projects. City Councilmembers in Eden Prairie, Chanhassen, Chask, and points west deserve a big pat on the back for the successful funding of the 212 Project. Bob Lindahl espcially. Great work!
With great road building activity comes great inconvenience. It’s temporary, but we’ll all feel it. I look forward to it. It will be a big step forward for Eden Prairie whe they’re done.
