MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Anoka County Advances $34 Million Highway 65 Improvements, Extends Shelter Funding and Expands Fraud Investigations

ANOKA, MN (July 15, 2026) Anoka County is moving forward with major transportation, emergency shelter, public-assistance oversight and water-safety initiatives following a series of County Board actions affecting communities throughout the North Metro.

Among the largest actions, commissioners authorized the county to enter into an agreement with the Minnesota Department of Transportation involving $34 million previously awarded for new grade-separated interchanges along Highway 65 in Blaine.

The proposed improvements cover the corridor between 97th Avenue NE and 117th Avenue NE, also known as Cloud Drive.

Grade-separated interchanges separate crossing traffic onto different levels, replacing conventional intersections with ramps and bridges. The design can reduce conflict points, improve traffic movement and decrease the risk of serious crashes along heavily traveled corridors.

Highway 65 serves as one of the North Metro’s principal transportation routes, carrying commuters, freight traffic, emergency vehicles and customers traveling to businesses in Blaine and surrounding communities.

More Than $1 Million Added for Emergency Shelter Services

The County Board also extended a shelter-funding agreement with the Minnesota Department of Human Services through June 30, 2027.

The extension adds more than $1 million to the grant supporting services for adults experiencing homelessness.

Anoka County Community Social Services and Behavioral Health uses the funding to contract with Stepping Stone Emergency Housing, which operates a 66-bed shelter for adult men and women at the Rum River Human Service Center campus.

County officials said the extension is cost-neutral for Anoka County.

Emergency shelters can provide more than a temporary place to sleep. They frequently connect residents with housing navigation, medical care, behavioral-health services, employment assistance and other programs intended to help people move toward stable housing.

Two Investigators Assigned to Fraud-Prevention Work

Commissioners approved an agreement between the county’s Economic Assistance Department and the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office assigning two investigators to the Fraud Prevention Investigation Program from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.

The county reported completing 610 fraud investigations in 2025.

The program examines suspected misuse of public-assistance benefits while helping protect resources intended for eligible residents facing financial hardship.

The county will also participate in a state-funded performance-measurement program examining how departments deliver services. Participation is voluntary for Minnesota counties and cities.

Road Improvements Planned Across the County

Several additional transportation projects received authorization.

The county will prepare right-of-way for a single-lane roundabout at Round Lake Boulevard NW, Lake George Boulevard NW and 181st Avenue NW in Andover and Oak Grove. Construction is currently scheduled for 2028.

A separate contract with WSB will cover preliminary design, environmental documentation and final design for converting the intersection of Lexington Avenue and Constance Boulevard NE in Ham Lake into a single-lane roundabout. That project is planned for 2029.

Commissioners also approved a contract with New Look Contracting to reconstruct 40th Avenue between Main Street and Highway 47 in Columbia Heights. The project would convert the existing four-lane roadway into a two-lane configuration.

Additional Patrols Planned on Lakes and Rivers

The Sheriff’s Office will receive federal and state grants supporting additional boat and water-safety patrols through Sept. 7.

The federal award will provide up to $10,500, while the state grant will provide as much as $33,072.

The funding reimburses the county for additional patrols on lakes and rivers during the busy summer boating season, when warmer weather brings increased traffic and a greater risk of crashes, impaired operation and drowning emergencies.

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Sources

• Anoka County: County Board Meeting Recap for June 23, 2026

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