ANOKA – The United States Department of Transportation awarded Anoka County a $40 million INFRA (Infrastructure for Rebuilding America) grant June 15 for construction on U.S. Highways 10/169, which will increase safety in the area of Sunfish Lake and Ramsey Boulevards and help alleviate traffic backups.
The Ramsey Gateway Improvement Project will entail construction of new-grade separated interchanges of U.S. Highways 10/169 and the BNSF Railway at their intersections with Ramsey and Sunfish Lake Boulevards. The project will also include new local frontage road connections to support the grade separations and will reduce traffic backups. Without these critical safety improvements, the projected increased traffic flows would undoubtedly lead to mor congestion and crashes along the corridor.
“These areas of Sunfish Lake and Ramsey Boulevards have been trouble spots in Anoka County for a long time, and the award of the grant is a major development in addressing the safety and congestion issues in those areas,” said Scott Schulte, chair, Anoka County Board of Commissioners. “We are profoundly grateful to the United States Department of Transportation for allocating this funding.”
Support for funding this project has been far reaching, with critical backing coming from U.S. Representative Tom Emmer, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith.
“Those of us who live in Anoka County or routinely travel through this area know how needed these improvements are,” said District 1 Anoka County Commissioner Matt Look. “We’re elated to be receiving this funding, and we are looking forward to safer, more streamlined commuter and freight movement through this corridor.”
