Last spring, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) dedicated funding through the Corridors of Commerce program that will convert Hwy 169 to a freeway, removing all five stoplights from the Mississippi River north through Elk River. Construction is currently set to begin in 2023/2024, however the groundwork for a mobility improvement project of this magnitude is already beginning. MnDOT is in the final stages of finalizing a contract with a consultant to review the preliminary design for the Hwy 169 Redefine project. Review of preliminary design options will begin in early 2019, at which time public meetings and open houses will be announced to educate residents, businesses, and commuters about the project, discuss timelines, construction impacts as well address any questions or concerns.
Stay tuned for more information as we move into 2019, and you can always find additional updates as they become available on the city's designated project webpage.