A Closer Look at Proposed Freeway Conversion for Hwy. 252
Some crucial decisions are on the horizon regarding the future of Highway 252 in Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park.
At issue is whether to turn it into a freeway or keep things as they are.
“Safety is the primary driver,” said Amber Blanchard, a major project manager at the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT). “There’s up to 400 crashes a year just along 252 alone, and we average one fatality a year, which obviously is far too much. So that is the primary reason we’re out there.”
MnDOT has studied five different “Access Combinations” that could be implemented if 252 is converted to a freeway. And of those five options, they’re recommending Combination 1.
The different options proposed by MnDOT for the Highway 252 freeway conversion. MnDOT is recommending Combination 1.
That option would put interchanges at 85th Avenue, Brookdale Drive, and 66th Avenue. MnDOT would also build pedestrian and bicycle structures over 81st and Humboldt, as well as at 70th Ave.
Combination 1 would also impact the fewest number of properties: six residential and three commercial.
Now, they’re asking for the public’s feedback through various community meetings and an online survey.
“Their feedback is really important throughout the entire process, throughout the entire study,” said Blanchard. “So we’re trying to understand what concerns people have, what maybe we can look at a little bit closer.”
The MnDOT survey is available through Wednesday, July 2.
Related: Brooklyn Center Neighbors Raise Concerns Over Hwy. 252 Freeway Plan
