Interstate 210 project receives federal funding - Brainerd Dispatch

BRAINERD — The upcoming Interstate 210/Washington Interstate reconstruction project in Brainerd has received federal funding.

U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith announced in a press release on Monday, December 11, that the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $25 million to the project. The funds are being provided through the department’s Multimodal Project Discretionary Grants program and will allow the Minnesota Department of Transportation to address safety concerns along the route.

“As one of the busiest corridors in Crow Wing County, Interstate 210 is an important connector for local residents and businesses,” Klobuchar said in a news release. “These federal dollars will fund essential safety improvements for drivers and pedestrians, while making much-needed improvements to public utility infrastructure.”

“Infrastructure is the backbone of a strong, resilient economy,” Smith added. “Interstate 210 helps connect families and businesses across the Brainerd Lakes region, and is critical to shipping and commerce in northern Minnesota. Investing in projects like this not only makes our roads safer; Rather, it helps support local economies throughout the state.

The project — estimated at about $45 million — is scheduled for 2026-2027 and will see the reconstruction of Interstate 210/Washington Avenue between Baxter Drive in Baxter and Pine Shores Road in Brainerd.

The western and eastern ends of the project area — from Baxter Drive to Northwest Fourth Street and 10th Avenue Northeast to Pine Shores Road — are mill and overlay, essentially removing and replacing the top layer of pavement.

The middle section of the road between Northwest Fourth Street and 10th Avenue Northeast will undergo reconstruction, with new sidewalks, sidewalks and city amenities. Most notably in this section, the signal light at the intersection with Northeast Fourth Avenue will be removed, and two roundabouts will be constructed at the intersections of Interstate 25 and Northeast Eighth Avenue, also known as Mill Avenue. The roundabout on Interstate 25 will have four legs, while the roundabout on Eighth Avenue will have three legs, with no access to the south because it replaces a T-intersection.

Interstate 210 through Brainerd has the highest traffic volumes in Crow Wing County, according to the press release from Klobuchar and Smith, and is the only continuous east-west corridor in Brainerd. The $25 million grant will fund improvements to reduce the risk of fatal and serious crashes; Create a network of sidewalks, crosswalks, and multi-use trails; rehabilitating the Washington Street Bridge; and allowing the City of Brainerd to make significant improvements to aging public facilities and stormwater systems.

The Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant Program supports projects that improve and expand the nation’s land transportation infrastructure in rural areas in order to increase connectivity, improve the safety and reliability of the movement of people and goods, generate regional economic growth and improve quality of life. The program is funded through the bipartisan Infrastructure Act, which Klobuchar and Smith supported and signed into law in 2021.

Our newsroom occasionally publishes stories under the “Employees” heading. Often, the byline “staff” is used when rewriting summaries of basic news that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, which requires little or no reporting. Sometimes, this byline is used when a news story involves multiple authors or when a story is formed by piecing together previously reported news from different sources. If external sources are used, this will be noted in the story.

Hi, I’m Brainerd Dispatch. It began work a few days before Christmas 1881 and became a daily newspaper two years later. I’ve gone through a lot of changes over the years, but what has never changed is my commitment to the community and local journalism. I have a whole team of dedicated people working day and night to make sure I’m out there every morning, whether in print, as an electronic copy, via an app, or with additional information at www.brainerddispatch.com. News, weather and sports – video, photos, podcasts and social media – all covering stories from central Minnesota about your neighbors, your lakes, your communities, your challenges and your opportunities. It’s all part of the effort to keep people connected and informed. We could not do this without support.

The long-awaited Interstate 210 project has just received a major boost with the announcement of federal funding being allocated to the project. This development has been eagerly anticipated by both local residents and government officials, as the project promises to improve the region’s transportation infrastructure and alleviate traffic congestion. The infusion of federal funding is a significant step forward in making this crucial project a reality, and it is sure to have a positive impact on the community as a whole.