This week the Senate Transportation committee heard legislation authored by Senator Eric Pratt (R-Prior Lake) that funds the construction of an interchange at the intersections of Highway 169, Highway 282, and State Highway 9, as well as the addition of an overpass for Highway 169 between 173rd Street and Bluff Drive.
“The spot of the proposed interchange is currently the last signaled intersection on 169 between the Twin Cities and St. Peter, and it’s an incredibly important corridor of commerce that is in desperate need of upgrades and repairs,” said Pratt. “Much of our state’s agricultural products travel on Highway 169 to get to the ports of Savage. As traffic and commerce have increased in recent years, a drastic increase in accidents has followed. Not only would this project be beneficial to distributors, shippers, and truckers, but their completion would also improve the safety for travelers and residents. These improvements are urgent, and it’s time to get them done.”
Over 50% of Minnesota’s agricultural products travel on Highway 169, and the intersection at hand is the last stoplight in a stretch of road between the Twin Cities and St. Peter. Currently, over 35,000 vehicles traffic this road daily. SF-35 would replace the stoplight intersection with an interchange that would alleviate traffic, reduce traffic accidents, and improve safety for the community. Scott County Transportation Services Director Lisa Freese and Jordan Mayor Mike Franklin joined to testify on the importance of this bill.
Due to the necessity of the project, Jordan Mayor Mike Franklin and Scott County Commissioner Barb Weckman Brekke testified in support of the bill.
The bill was held over for inclusion in the Trunk Highway Bonding bill.