Decades of Delays End: $140 Million “Ramsey Gateway” Project Transforms U.S. Highway 10 Corridor

RAMSEY, Minn. — A decades-long struggle with congestion and safety hazards along U.S. Highway 10 through Ramsey has finally ended with the completion of the Ramsey Gateway Project, a roughly $140 million reconstruction effort that transforms the corridor into a continuous, free-flowing expressway.

The project, a collaboration between Anoka County, the City of Ramsey, and the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), officially wrapped up in November 2025, marking the removal of the final traffic signals on the US 10/169 corridor between the Twin Cities and Elk River.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 29, 2025, celebrated the milestone. Local and state officials praised the project as a long-sought solution to persistent congestion and safety challenges.

Chronic Congestion and Safety Risks Addressed

For years, this section of Highway 10 carried up to 50,000 vehicles per day, a figure projected to exceed 70,000 by 2045. The signalized intersections at Ramsey Boulevard (CSAH 56) and Sunfish Lake Boulevard (CSAH 57) were notorious bottlenecks, with delays often exceeding two minutes per vehicle during peak travel.

Safety was also a pressing concern. The corridor’s crash rate was nearly double the state average, driven largely by rear-end collisions at the traffic signals. Long-term planners identified grade separation — for both roadways and the adjacent BNSF Railway — as a critical solution.

Key Infrastructure Improvements

The Ramsey Gateway Project delivered several major upgrades:

• Grade-Separated Interchanges: The Sunfish Lake Boulevard interchange opened in November 2024, followed by the Ramsey Boulevard interchange in September 2025. These interchanges replaced the previous signalized intersections, enabling free-flowing traffic.
• Railroad Grade Separation: New bridges eliminate at-grade crossings with the BNSF Railway, reducing unpredictable freight and commuter train delays on one of Minnesota’s busiest rail lines.
• Frontage and Backage Roads: A new north frontage road system connects the two interchanges, removing direct local access from Highway 10 and separating through traffic from local vehicles.
• Multimodal Accommodations: The design includes sidewalks, trails, and pedestrian/bicycle connections, ensuring the corridor serves more than just motorists.

The final construction cost was approximately $140 million, funded through a combination of federal, state, and local sources, including a $40 million INFRA discretionary grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Economic and Regional Impact

Officials anticipate that the improved corridor will deliver substantial economic benefits, including:

• Safer and more reliable travel: Reducing traffic delays by more than 94 percent and significantly lowering crash risks.
• Support for business and industry: Enhanced freight mobility and commute reliability may attract new commercial and industrial development to Ramsey and surrounding communities.
• Future growth capacity: The corridor is designed to handle traffic volumes of up to 75,000 vehicles per day through 2045, accommodating decades of population and economic growth.

A drone video released by project officials offers a bird’s-eye view of the transformation, illustrating the scale and impact of the completed work.

A New Era for Highway 10

With the Ramsey Gateway Project complete, US 10 in Ramsey has been transformed from a congested, high-risk corridor into a modern, efficient expressway. By separating highway traffic, local traffic, and rail operations, the project resolves long-standing mobility and safety issues while positioning the region for economic growth.

“This is more than just a road project; it’s a fundamental change in how people and goods move through our region,” said an Anoka County representative at the ribbon-cutting. “The improvements ensure safer travel, more predictable commutes, and opportunities for development that benefit our entire community.”

The Ramsey Gateway stands as a testament to decades of planning, intergovernmental collaboration, and targeted investment, proving that even long-delayed infrastructure projects can finally come to fruition.

MinneapoliMedia