Home / Business and Economy / Dangerous Minnesota Highway 65 Gets $195M Freeway Upgrade
Dangerous Minnesota Highway 65 Gets $195M Freeway Upgrade
15 Jun
Summary
- Highway 65 project aims to improve travel and reduce crashes.
- The $195 million construction project is expected to last until summer 2030.
- Ten of Minnesota's 31 most dangerous intersections are on Highway 65.
Preliminary work commenced Monday on a multiyear construction project for Highway 65 in Blaine, Minnesota. This $195 million initiative, scheduled to continue through summer 2030, seeks to convert the existing highway into a freeway. The goal is to enhance travel efficiency and decrease the frequency of accidents on a stretch of road identified as highly hazardous.
Highway 65 currently features a 55-mph speed limit and frequent intersections, with ten of Minnesota's thirty-one most dangerous intersections located along this route. The ongoing construction will involve widening the highway, building new crossovers, and developing frontage and backage roads. Intersections at 99th, 109th, and 117th Avenues will be transformed into interchanges, and a pedestrian bridge will be constructed.
Crews will also focus on installing storm sewer pipes for drainage and reconstructing sidewalks to comply with ADA standards. The transformation is designed to manage the approximately 60,000 daily drivers more effectively and enhance overall safety. Some temporary street closures and detours are anticipated as work progresses.
