Highway 25 Being Looked At For Improvements – 4 Alternatives Remain

If you do any amount of driving along Highway 25, you've probably noticed the increase in traffic along that corridor. There's been enough of an increase that both Wright and Sherburne counties are looking at making a change along that corridor, but what remains to be seen is what kind of change may come. A study was recently completed on the Highway, and the two counties shared their findings. It seems like Highway 25 now has 4 options in front of it, and here are those options according to the study.

The City of Monticello posted on its website the counties study, along with the reason why the study was initiated.

"Over the past year and a half, Wright and Sherburne Counties partnered with area communities and state agencies to conduct the Highway 25 Area Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study. The purpose of this PEL study was to develop a long-term vision for transportation improvements in the area, build consensus around that vision, and initiate state and federal planning and environmental processes.

The study used public and agency input and data analysis to consider transportation alternatives to address capacity, access, mobility, and safety issues in the Highway 25 area between I-94 and Highway 10."

Here are the options that were presented from the study, according to the City of Monticello's online posting.

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• No build scenario which would include improvements to the I-94 and Highway 25 interchange, widening of I-94 to six lanes east of Highway 25, and repaving of Highway 25 in and near Monticello, including Intelligent transportation systems improvements and variable messaging signs.
• One Way Pair: One-way pair which would convert Cedar Street to northbound-only operation and the existing Highway 25 roadway (Pine Street) to a southbound-only operation along with other intersection improvements, a new span of the Mississippi River near the existing Hwy 25 bridge, and expansion of CR 11 between Hwy 25 and Hwy 10. [B3]
• New I-94 Interchange & CR-11 improvement: 120^th Street would include constructing a new I-94 interchange, Mississippi River bridge crossing, and new roadway on the western edge of Monticello which would connect 120^th Street and CR 11 along with intersection improvements. [D2]
• New I-94 Interchange and new connection: Eastern Becker, which would construct a new I-94 interchange, Mississippi River bridge crossing, and new roadway on the east side of Becker, which would connect Aetna Avenue to 150^th Avenue. [D3]

You can see what each of those alternatives offers drivers and or changes about your commute on Highway 25 by heading here. 

The next steps are to gather more information about these alternatives, as well as gather additional feedback on the possible changes/projects coming to the Highway 25 area in the Monticello, Big Lake, and Becker areas.