Contact
- Claudia Dumont
Project Manager
District 3 St. Cloud
320-223-6530
Status
- Unscheduled
Description
- Expand Hwy 24 to a freeway connection between I-94 and Hwy 10 in central Minnesota; includes a new Mississippi River bridge
Cost
- $242 million
Quick Links
Project Study
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MnDOT proposes upgrading the Highway 24 interregional corridor connection to a freeway between I-94 in Clearwater and Highway 10 in Clear Lake in Wright and Sherburne Counties.
The need was initially established in a transportation study completed in 1996; and a range of potential connections were evaluated in a Mississippi River Crossing Study conducted between 1995 and 1996. As a result, four potential corridors were recommended for further study and were eventually narrowed down to four specific alignments, which are documented in the 1997 I-94/Highway 10 Regional Connection Scoping Document and the 2001 Scoping Decision Document.
During the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) process, the scoping alignments were further refined with respect to interchange configurations and system connection issues. A number of sub-alternatives were developed and evaluated, ultimately resulting in identification of four build alternatives (one in each of the alignments carried forward from scoping) that were analyzed and documented in detail in the DEIS.
The DEIS was prepared to:
- Discuss the purpose of and need for the proposed project
- Consider alternatives
- Evaluate environmental effects of alternatives
- Explore methods for avoiding and minimizing adverse impacts
- Obtain public and agency input to aid in the identification of a preferred alternative for further study in the Final EIS (FEIS)
In May 2004, MnDOT announced the selection of Alternative C as the preferred alternative, which best met the region's transportation needs while minimizing environmental, social, and economic impacts. The preferred alternative is a freeway design with interchanges proposed at I-94 and Highway 10, and a grade-separated rail crossing near Highway 10. It will tie into Interstate 94 approximately 2 miles southeast of the existing Highway 24 interchange at Clearwater and continue on a new alignment across the river. The alignment would continue north at the location of the existing 70th Street to intersect with Highway 10 approximately 1 mile northwest of the existing Highway 24/Highway 10 intersection in the city of Clear Lake. An interchange is also proposed at the intersection of the preferred alternative with existing Highway 24 to provide local access to the river crossing for Clearwater and Clear Lake area traffic.
Detailed layouts for the preferred alternative are complete. The Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) documents the revisions to the preferred alternative and was available for public review and comment in early 2007.
The Record of Decision was completed by the Federal Highway Administration in September 2007. The Adequecy Determination was completed by the MnDOT Office of Environmental Services in October. These documents complete the environmental review process and is available for viewing.
The proposed project is currently included in District 3's Long-Range Plan, for the time period 2009 to 2018. However, funding would not be available after 2028 due to revenue constraints.
| Year | Activity |
1997 |
Release of Scoping Document and Draft Scoping Decision Document |
2001 |
Final Scoping Decision Document |
2003 - 2004 |
Distribute draft Environmental Impact Statement for agency and public comment |
2004 |
Draft Environmental Impact Statement Public Hearing |
2004 |
Identification of preferred alternative by MN/DOT Commissioner |
2007 |
Distribute final Environmental Impact Statement |
2007 |
MnDOT Adequacy Determination and Federal Highway Administration Record of Decision |
Beyond 2028 |
Construction begins |