MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Anoka County and Blaine to Spend Nearly $5 Million on Permanent Road Improvements as Highway 65 Reconstruction Reshapes North Metro Traffic

BLAINE, MN (May 15, 2026) As one of Minnesota’s largest active transportation construction corridors prepares for years of disruption, Anoka County and the City of Blaine are moving ahead with nearly $5 million in locally funded road improvements designed to permanently reshape traffic flow around the rapidly developing Highway 65 corridor.

The decision reflects an unusual but deliberate break from the standard structure of federally connected highway projects. Local officials say they chose to pay for several intersection upgrades themselves after learning that improvements installed under the state’s federally funded Highway 65 reconstruction project would likely have to be removed once the highway work concluded.

County leaders described the arrangement as an inefficient use of public infrastructure dollars and opted instead to independently finance permanent upgrades at key congestion points throughout Blaine.

The move comes as the north metro suburb continues to absorb accelerating commercial, residential, and entertainment growth surrounding the National Sports Center corridor, one of the busiest and fastest-growing development zones in the Twin Cities metropolitan region.

Officials say the reconstruction of Highway 65, stretching roughly from 97th Avenue Northeast to 125th Avenue Northeast, is expected to significantly alter traffic patterns for several years as MnDOT undertakes major interchange, access, and roadway improvements intended to address long-standing congestion and safety concerns along the heavily traveled corridor.

At the same time, the city is preparing for additional traffic generated by major private and public developments, including a new Scheels retail location, expanded sports and entertainment facilities near the National Sports Center, and continued residential growth across Blaine’s eastern development districts.

Transportation officials estimate local traffic volumes could rise between 10% and 20% as construction and development activity intensify simultaneously.

“This is the first intersection that we will be reconstructing,” said Jorge Bernal, Anoka County’s engineering manager, while recently outlining planned improvements at several Blaine intersections already experiencing mounting traffic pressure.

During a project tour, Bernal pointed to congestion backups along Radisson Road approaching 109th Avenue Northeast, where existing turn lanes regularly struggle to accommodate current traffic volumes even before the anticipated increase associated with the Highway 65 reconstruction.

“As you can see, this turn lane, this left turn lane that we’re gonna take, it’s already backed up to here,” Bernal said.

Under the original state construction framework, temporary traffic controls and turn-lane modifications would have been installed at several local intersections to manage detoured and redistributed traffic during the Highway 65 work.

But because the primary highway project involves federal transportation funding, local officials say federal construction and reimbursement rules would have required portions of those temporary improvements to eventually be removed after the state project ended.

County officials said that prospect became increasingly difficult to justify as planning advanced.

“The silliest thing,” said Anoka County Commissioner Julie Jeppson while discussing the federal requirements. “Whatever rhyme or reason in the federal government is there, it makes no sense to me. But again, you have to follow what they say.”

Rather than construct temporary infrastructure only to dismantle it later, Anoka County and the City of Blaine agreed to bypass federal participation for several local projects and instead install permanent infrastructure intended to remain operational long after the Highway 65 reconstruction concludes.

The locally funded projects are scheduled to begin in August following completion of the annual 3M Open tournament at TPC Twin Cities, a scheduling decision intended to reduce disruption during one of the city’s highest-profile annual events.

The work is expected to continue through late October, weather permitting.

Planned improvements include replacement and modernization of traffic signals at 109th Avenue Northeast and Radisson Road; installation of a new permanent signal at 109th Avenue Northeast and Tournament Players Parkway; extension of the northbound left-turn lane at 105th Avenue Northeast and Radisson Road; and roadway and traffic management improvements along Davenport Street between 103rd and 107th Avenues Northeast.

Officials say the upgrades will include permanent traffic-control infrastructure, pedestrian accommodations, expanded turn capacity, and higher-grade fixtures intended to withstand long-term traffic demands generated by the corridor’s continuing growth.

“Something permanent that the public can benefit from for a long time, to me, long after the project’s in place,” said Joe MacPherson, Anoka County transportation engineer.

The county plans to contribute at least $4.047 million toward the projects, while the City of Blaine will provide at least $883,500. Officials cautioned final costs could fluctuate depending on construction conditions and project adjustments.

County leaders say the money will come from transportation and infrastructure reserves already accumulated in anticipation of impacts tied to the Highway 65 reconstruction project. Officials maintain the decision will not require a tax increase or immediate budget adjustments.

MacPherson said local governments intentionally resolved the issue early in the planning process before residents became aware that temporary improvements might eventually be removed and rebuilt.

“I can just imagine how the conversation would have gone there,” MacPherson said. “I would think pitchforks and having people very upset. But fortunately, we never got there.”

The broader Highway 65 reconstruction effort represents one of the most consequential transportation infrastructure projects currently underway in the northern metropolitan area. Highway 65 serves as a major north-south commuter and commercial corridor connecting Minneapolis and Saint Paul suburbs with growing outer-ring communities in Anoka County.

For years, residents and local officials have pushed for expanded roadway capacity, improved traffic management, and safer access points along portions of the corridor where congestion has steadily intensified alongside suburban expansion.

The latest wave of development in Blaine has further increased pressure on surrounding local roads. The National Sports Center already attracts millions of annual visitors through youth tournaments, regional athletic events, and entertainment programming, while new retail and mixed-use projects are expected to accelerate both commercial activity and residential demand.

Officials acknowledged that the irony of the construction effort is unavoidable: projects intended to relieve congestion will temporarily create even greater traffic disruptions throughout the area.

Transportation engineers are urging drivers to allow additional travel time, anticipate delays, and become familiar with alternate routes before construction intensifies later this summer.

“Take your time, plan plenty of time in advance to get to your destination,” MacPherson said. “Also, just kind of get to know the area a little better. If you’re a local resident and you’ve always taken the same path to get to and from where you go, try some other avenues before the project starts.”

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