On Thursday, November 9, Senator Mark Koran (R-North Branch) welcomed members of the Senate’s Capital Investment Committee to Anoka Ramsey Community College’s campus in Coon Rapids, where the committee heard a presentation about a proposed $4.3 million pedestrian underpass below Highway 65 to improve pedestrian safety and connectivity in the growing city. The visit was part of the committee’s tour of western and central Minnesota bonding projects.
Josi Wood, Isanti’s City Administrator, led the presentation along with Chief of Police Travis Muyres. The project would connect existing trails on both sides of Highway 65 and provide safer access to the school. The city is requesting $2.15 million in state bonding dollars in 2024 to match $2.15 million in allocated federal funds.
Senator Koran said the pedestrian safety need was clear at the busy crossing.
“Everyone in our area knows the dangerous realities of this intersection firsthand,” Senator Koran said. “The need for a pedestrian underpass is crystal clear, and the community has developed a sound plan to address this critical safety issue. The bonding bill next year must focus on essential, critical infrastructure – not wishlist projects – and this project should absolutely be included.”
The project is a response to the challenges posed by the increasing population and traffic in Isanti. With daily traffic counts exceeding 23,300 on Highway 65 and 10,000 on CSAH 5, the intersection has become one of Greater Minnesota’s most congested and dangerous spots for pedestrians.
The proposed underpass seeks to address safety concerns at the intersection of TH 65 and CSAH 5, where currently, pedestrians and cyclists must navigate through five lanes of high-speed traffic. This initiative is especially crucial for groups like the elderly, children, and the disabled, who find it particularly challenging to cross safely.
If fully funded in 2024, design work could begin in mid 2025 with construction targeted for completion in August 2026.
PHOTOS FROM THE PRESENTATION:
