New 169 Interchange Means Big Changes for Brooklyn Park Church
For the city of Brooklyn Park it’s a sign of progress. After a lengthy wait, the city is finally getting a coveted interchange at Highway 169 and 101st Avenue.
“This interchange is a critical link in that entire system,” said Jesse Struve, Brooklyn Park’s city engineer. “It’s nice to have a full funding package and to move on. We spent a lot of years obtaining grants and assistance to the tune of $23.5 million.”
The total tab is $28.2 million. Construction starts in October or November and finishes in the fall of 2020. It includes a bridge over the highway.
“It will be a full access folded diamond,” Struve said. “Meaning the exits from 169 and entrances will be north of 101st.”
Business Boost
The interchange is a key piece of Brooklyn Park’s northwest business quadrant.
“As businesses move into that area we have to supply the road infrastructure to move people in and out of that area,” Struve said.
However, not everyone is giving the interchange their initial blessing.
“As a church and an organization, we lose the most prime real estate in that transaction,” said Joe Boyd, pastor at Grace Fellowship Community Church.
Grace Fellowship is located at the junction of Highway 169 and 101st Avenue.
Pastor Boyd says he’s all for progress, but is concerned about the current proposal.
“The city would be taking two entry points,” Pastor Boyd said. “In exchange we get one entry point, which creates a concern for safety because we literally have thousands of people who come through this property and this building on a weekly basis.”
Church to Get New Address
The church is also getting a new address. Instead of being on 101st, Grace would technically be on the future Xylon Street.
“We don’t change our location, but we change our identity and our position,” Pastor Boyd said. “So all of our signage will have to change. That’s a huge collateral expense. We will also have to make major changes on how you find them on cell phones. Literally GPS.”
Pastor Boyd is optimistic the city will give them an additional access point to make things right for both parties.
“I believe God’s so good that he can work it out so we can work through anything.”
