Coon Rapids Intensifies Efforts To Complete TH 610 Interchange, Aiming To Boost Mobility And Safety.

Coon Rapids Intensifies Efforts To Complete TH 610 Interchange, Aiming To Boost Mobility And Safety.

Coon Rapids, MN – June 3, 2025 – The City of Coon Rapids continues its persistent pursuit of full funding for a critical infrastructure project: the construction of a full-access interchange at Trunk Highway 610 (TH 610) and East River Road. On May 20, the Coon Rapids City Council adopted a resolution to authorize an application for federal funding through the U.S. House of Representatives' Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Subcommittee's Fiscal Year 2026 Community Project Funding (CPF) program. This program specifically targets highway infrastructure projects that demonstrate strong community support.

The proposed interchange is a long-standing priority for Coon Rapids. Currently, TH 610 at East River Road functions as a partial interchange, providing only westbound on-ramps and eastbound off-ramps. This limited access creates significant challenges for commuters, emergency services, and businesses in the area. For instance, westbound drivers seeking to exit onto East River Road or access businesses in the vicinity must often travel several miles out of their way, crossing into other cities before turning around. This adds to congestion, travel times, and fuel consumption. Emergency responders, including Coon Rapids Police and Fire, also face delays accessing certain areas, sometimes needing assistance from neighboring Brooklyn Park due to better access points there.

The project aims to complete the interchange by adding a westbound off-ramp and an eastbound on-ramp, significantly improving mobility, safety, and economic development in Coon Rapids. The total estimated cost of the full interchange project is approximately $37.3 million.

Coon Rapids has been actively seeking funding for this project for many years. Efforts have included securing state bonding funds for preliminary design work (including $1.5 million in 2020), pursuing regional solicitation grants, and making direct requests to the Minnesota Legislature. As of August 2024, the project had secured approximately $20.8 million, including $10.8 million from the Minnesota Highway Freight Program and a strong likelihood of receiving $10 million from the Metropolitan Council's regional solicitation process. Both the city and Anoka County have also committed $2 million each towards the project cost.

The current application for federal dollars through the FY26 CPF program represents the city's latest strategy to bridge the remaining funding gap. The CPF program allows Members of Congress to request direct funding for projects that benefit their constituents, emphasizing community need and support. This avenue provides a crucial opportunity for Coon Rapids to secure the necessary federal investment to make the long-envisioned full-access interchange a reality.

Final design work for the interchange is already underway, with the city engaging a consulting engineering firm to complete this phase. Public Works Director Tim Himmer stated in August 2024 that the project is anticipated to be "shovel ready" by this time in 2025. The city's consistent efforts underscore the high priority placed on this infrastructure improvement, which is seen as vital for enhancing the quality of life and supporting economic growth in Coon Rapids.

MinneapoliMedia