On Oct. 5, 2007, The Minneapolis City Council and Mayor R.T. Rybak approved a resolution that grants approval of the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s proposed layout for a new I-35W Bridge across the Mississippi River. City of Minneapolis Web site

Municipal approval is required for trunk highway projects within municipalities, as outlined in Minnesota's Municipal Consent Law (Minnesota Statutes 161.162 – 161.167), when they:

• alter access
• increase or reduce traffic capacity
• require acquisition of permanent right-of-way

The I-35W/ Bridge over the Mississippi River reconstruction project meets the legal definition to require municipal approval from the City of Minneapolis

The final project layout and supporting documentation were submitted to the City of Minneapolis for municipal approval on Aug. 21, 2007. 

• Letter to Minneapolis City Council from Governor Tim Pawlenty
• Letter to Mayor Rybak from Mn/DOT

In accordance with the Municipal Consent Law, the municipalities are responsible for conducting public hearings within 60 days of receipt of the final layout, after which they have 90 days to consider approval of the project layout.  The City of Minneapolis held a public hearing on Sept. 20, 2007.

Information from Sept. 20 Hearing

• Presentation by Mn/DOT officials
• Summary of public outreach
• Visual Quality Recommendations
• Economic Impacts of the I-35W Bridge Collapse
• I-35W Traffic Restoration Projects

• Time line of Municipal Consent Process
• Flow chart of the municipal consent process
• Flow chart of appeal process for interstate projects
• Flow chart of appeal process for non-interstate projects

Related Statutes

• Definitions MN Statute 161.162
• Highway Project Review MN Statute 161.163
• Final Layout Approval Process MN Statute 161.164
• Commissioner Action; Interstate Highways MN Statute 161.165
• Commissioner Action; Other Highways MN Statute 161.166
• Reimbursement of Expenses for Appeal Board Members MN Statute 161.167