News Release

Roseville, Minn— Replacement of an existing 350 foot radio communications tower owned by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) in Arden Hills will begin later this month with completion of the new structure by the end of October. The old tower will be removed next spring. The tower site is located near the junction of Interstate 694 and Interstate 35W.

The existing tower will be replaced with a similar 320-foot structure. Both the state of Minnesota and Ramsey County use the radio communications tower for coverage of their public safety radio systems.

With the new tower's reduced height, the Federal Aviation Administration will require that the new tower have only a single lighting system for aircraft visibility. The current tower is required to have a dual-level lighting system. The current lighting system consists of a top-mounted white strobe light for daytime use and red strobes for nighttime with obstruction lights midway on the sides of the tower.

The new tower will continue to have Federal Aviation Administration required lighting system for aircraft visibility, but the lighting will be reduced from a dual level strobe system to a single level, top-mounted white strobe light for daytime use and red strobe for nighttime with obstruction lights midway on the sides of the tower.

Concerned citizens should contact Lynn Ness at the Minnesota Department of Transportation, 651-582-1430.

Mn/DOT reminds motorists to SLOW DOWN in the work zone and NEVER enter a roadway that has been blocked with barriers or cones. Please join us in a safety partnership. For statewide traffic, construction and travel information visit www.511mn.org or call 511 or log on to mndot.gov

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