Minnesota Highway 47 (University Avenue) and Minnesota 65 (Central Avenue) need improvements and MnDOT is creating a blueprint for how to do that. “We’re seeing a lot of the same issues out here on Highway 47 that we’re experiencing on 65 in Blaine,” said MnDOT’s Chris Bower. “So these two studies are trying to do the exact same thing. Trying to look at opportunities to improve safety for everyone using the road.”
There is no timeline for starting, but the project is large in scope and includes 20 miles of roadway – 10 on Highway 47 and 10 on 65.
“The reason that MnDOT is studying these two roadways is because they’ve been experiencing a higher than normal number of crashes between the two roadways,” Bower said. “The study is primarily focused on looking at ways to improve safety and how we can prevent some of these crashes from happening in the future.”
Multiple solutions
MnDOT is using public feedback to decide what kind of fixes Central and University Avenues need and has come up with some concepts on how to improve these congested thoroughfares.
“Some of the options include having high-speed roadways, preventing some of the conflicts that are occurring,” Bower said. “Things like grade separations and interchanges. MnDOT’s also considering other intersection treatments like roundabouts and also working with Metro Transit to figure out how we can improve bus service as well as improvements for people walking, biking and rolling.”
Bower says MnDOT hopes to find a low cost, high benefit solution to these north-south ribbons that run from downtown Minneapolis to Blaine and beyond.
“The goal of this study is to tee this up for improvements to happen as soon as funding is procured.” Bower said. “There are a lot of funding opportunities right now through the bipartisan transportation bill that was recently passed…We’ll take this information that we’re developing and we’ll use it to go after some funding, just like what’s happening on Highway 65 in Blaine.”
The next public forum on Highways 47 and 65 is March 23 in Fridley.
