In August, MnDOT and other partner agencies formed a Planning & Environmental Linkages study of the Highway 65 corridor. On March 18, that group and other MnDOT representatives hosted an informal session with anyone who wanted to discuss issues related to the corridor at National Sports Center.
“One of the issues we hear from people a lot is the fact that it’s very congested,” said MnDOT’s Kent Barnard, who does public affairs for the north metro region. “It takes a long time to get from point A to point B. Obviously, the cross traffic has issues trying to cross (Highway 65) or to merge into traffic during the rush hours in the morning or afternoon.”
Other MnDOT representatives shared the demands of trying to find traffic congestion solutions for the future that are reasonable and within the means of the existing roadway.
Barnard said it’s also not just automobile traffic that the group wants to focus on.
“People have complained the pedestrian and bicycle trails are not very conducive to use out here, too,” he said.
The study group will hope to come up with a list of viable alternatives and plans for Highway 65 by this summer before moving on to next steps, which include evaluating those alternatives and releasing a report by next summer.
