Proposed Upgrade for Highway 252 Moves Forward

Construction is still years away, but a move by Hennepin County this week may help accelerate an upgrade to Highway 252.  The highway runs through Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center and has some of the most dangerous crossings in the state.  Plans call for eliminating all six stop lights along the highway and converting it to a freeway similar to Highway 100.

“Its a huge need and we at the county know it needs to happen sooner rather than later and that’s why we’re stepping up,” said Hennepin County Project Manager John Doan.

This week the county approved a plan that would spend $3.9 million on a required environmental study. MnDOT and the cities of Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center are also helping to fund the study.  It was going to be done at a later date, but federal highway officials gave local authorities the OK to move it up.

“That’s an important milestone because it allows us then to do a deeper dive into what the issues are and start to design the corridor,” said Doan.

The environmental review will look at issues like noise impacts, right of way issues, and possibly the use of MnPass lanes.

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