Highway 169Phase 2 (Part 2) – Cross Range Expressway

April 30, 2014Public Information Meeting

Taconite Community Center

• Agenda Overview• Short Presentation ~ 15 min• Questions/Comments

Today’s Meeting

• History of the Cross Range Expressway• Corridors of Commerce (COC) Program• MnDOT District 1 COC Project - TH 169

• Proposed Improvements• Project Update• Next Steps

• ROW Acquisition Process• Questions

Agenda

Cross Range Expressway

• 1986 Draft Environmental Impact Statement• 1989 Final Environmental Impact Statement• 1994 Phase I Construction• 2003 Phase II Environmental Assessment• 2006-2007 Phase II (Part 1) Construction• 2016 Phase II (Part 2) Construction (COC)

Project History

Phases Length Constructed RemainingPhase I 6.7 mi. 1994Phase II (part 1) 2.8 mi. 2006 & 2007Phase II (part 2) 1.6 mi. XPhase III 3.8 mi. XPhase IV 1.9 mi XPhase V 2.1 mi X Total 18.9 miles 9.4 miles

Expressway Segments

• The 2013 Minnesota Legislature created the Corridors of Commerce program by authorizing the sale of up to $300 million in new bonds for the construction, reconstruction and improvement of trunk highways.

• District 1 proposed TH 169 Expansion Project- Selected November 2013- Legislature allocated $14M to $20M

Corridors of Commerce Program

Corridors of Commerce Program

TH 169Freight Route

• TH 169 2-lane to 4-lane expansion• 1.55 mile segment• Existing AADT 6,600 (2011)• TH 169 – Supplemental Freight Route• Part of Phase II of the Cross Range Expressway • Environmental Assessment completed for this

segment in 2003• Const. Cost Estimate = $9.5M

District 1 – Corridors of Commerce Project

East End of Bovey Bypass0.3 Mi E. of CSAH 7

Phase 2 (Part 2)

• TH 169• Better Clear Zone, Center Median• Install Intersection Lighting (CSAH 15 and CSAH 7)• Construct designated Turn Lanes• Access Control (Combine Access in Holman)• Replace Plate Steel Box Culvert

• CSAH 15• Realign Intersection to 90 degrees• Realign Intersection with Rail Corridor to near 90 degrees

• CSAH 7• Replace Plate Steel Box Culvert

Project Improvements

• Project Alignment and Limits Established• Wetland Delineation – completed Fall of 2013• Preliminary Design - continued• Field Surveys – nearly completed• Property Acquisition – Titles Acquired• Agency Coordination –

• MnDNR - permit• Corp of Engineers – wetland permit• MPCA – stormwater treatment

Project Update

• Project Outreach and Coordination started– • Itasca County• City of Taconite• Western Mesabi Mine Planning Board• Canadian National Railway• Mesabi Bike Trail• Local Snowmobile Clubs• Utility Companies

Project Update (cont’d)

• Survey Mapping, Soil Investigations – May 2014• Environmental Assessment (Re-Evaluation) – Fall 2014• ROW Acquisition Complete – Spring 2016• Final Design – Start July 2014 & Finish Spring 2016• Project Permitting• Project Letting – June 2016

Next Steps

• MnDOT Determines Land Ownership - • MnDOT Design Finalizes Construction Limits• MnDOT Notifies Affected Property Owners-

- Anticipated Late 2014 or Early 2015• MnDOT has affected Parcels Appraised• MnDOT prepares written Offers to Purchase

ROW Acquisition Process

Questions / Comments?

Project EstimatedPhases Cost Total Project Cost Phase I $10.0 M Phase II (part 1) $14.6 M Phase II (part 2) $11.5M - $12.5M Phase III $35M - $46M** Phase IV $17M - $22M** Phase V $58M - $77M**

Total $121.5M – 157.5M** 2018 Dollars

Expressway Segment Costs

Segments 2000 2011 2032* 2032 ** Bovey to CSAH 7 5,800 6,600 7,700 9,500 CSAH 7 to Marble 5,500 5,800 7,300 9,100Marble to Calumet 4,900 5,600 6,200 8,000Calumet to Pengilly 4,750 5,600 7,200 9,000

* Based on MnDOT Projections

** Based on Projected AADT of 1800 from SEH Traffic Analysis for Essar Steel Project

Traffic Data (AADT)