REPRESENTATIVE ANGIE CRAIG, SENATOR TINA SMITH ANNOUNCE FEDERAL GRANT FOR SCOTT COUNTY US 169 INTERCHANGE PROJECT

Statement

Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig and U.S. Senator Tina Smith announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $8 million in federal grant funding for the US 169 & Highway 282/County Highway 9 Interchange Project in Scott County. Earlier this year, the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grant application was submitted by Scott County and their project partners, which include the City of Jordan and the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT). Following the drafting and submission of the application, the project was championed in Washington by Representative Craig and Senator Smith.

The project, once completed, will replace the last signalized highway intersection within 50 miles of the Twin Cities with an interchange, creating a 75 mile stoplight free zone to improve a key interregional corridor in Minnesota that is essential for commuters, local residents and businesses' economic success and vitality in the project area and region.

"After years of hard work and advocacy, I am proud to announce that Scott County has been awarded $8 million for the US 169 Interchange project, which will create good paying jobs in Scott County, make our community safer and grow our economy by improving a critical economic corridor that connects Minnesota businesses with customers throughout the state and across the globe," said Representative Craig. "The benefits of this project will ripple far beyond Scott County, particularly for rural portions of my district that rely on this corridor to transport their products and agricultural commodities to market. I am grateful for the tireless work of my local partners in Scott County, the City of Jordan and the Minnesota Department of Transportation, particularly Commissioner Barb Weckman Brekke, Mayor Mike Franklin and Highway 169 Corridor Coalition Chair Kevin Burkart."

"Today's news is a win not just for Scott County, but for the hundreds of thousands of hard working Minnesotans who rely on this corridor in their daily lives," said Senator Smith. "I'm proud to fight for critical projects like this one that will make life better for so many Minnesotans and create good-paying jobs and economic growth."

This project will construct a grade-separated interchange at TH-282/County Highway 9 and a bridge over the Union Pacific rail line. The project also includes a roundabout, a multi-use path and underpass of US 169, floodway improvements, stormwater improvements, and frontage roads. Earlier this year, Craig wrote a letter to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg advocating for the application's approval, arguing that the project would "create jobs, improve multimodal safety conditions, increase freight mobility, advance connectivity, reduce travel times, congestion and related emissions in the region southwest of the Twin Cities."

On a typical day, more than 30,000 vehicles enter US Highway 169 and Trunk Highway 282/County State Aid Highway 9 to access local and regional employment centers. US 169 connects the Twin Cities and the upper Midwest's largest inland waterway grain facilities -- the Ports of Savage -- to other parts of Minnesota and the Midwest and is critical for connecting Minnesota businesses to both domestic and international markets. Sixty percent of Minnesota's Fortune 500 businesses are located near the corridor, and half of Minnesota's Fortune agricultural commodities are shipped through the US 169.

The project has received support from a diverse and bipartisan group of stakeholders including the US 169 Corridor Coalition, a transportation coalition that includes 11 cities, 4 counties, 3 townships, a regional development agency, and 7 affiliate members. It has also garnered support from businesses, residents, the Union Pacific (UP) railroad, the freight industry, and state and local agencies because of the safety and mobility benefits provided.

Several local leaders, who have championed the US 169 interchange project for years, also celebrated the $8 million grant:

"We couldn't be more pleased that our Congressional representatives helped secure this funding," said Commissioner Barb Weckman Brekke, who represents the City of Jordan and its surrounding areas on the Scott County Board. "Our residents, businesses, and visitors will certainly see the benefit of this investment for generations, and our partnership with the City has been absolutely invaluable in this effort."

"The City of Jordan is thrilled to receive this significant investment toward safety and efficiency for our residents and visitors. Highway 169 has evolved from a sleepy country highway to a major thoroughfare for commerce connecting our agricultural heartland with the ports of Savage and the Twin Cities marketplace. There shouldn't be a stop light in the middle of I-35, and 169 shouldn't have one in Jordan, either," said Jordan Mayor Mike Franklin. "Thank you to our friends and allies in Scott County, Senator Pratt and Representative Albright, to Congresswoman Craig, and Senators Smith and Klobuchar for their advocacy and partnership. With this investment, we're much closer to getting this project done once and for all."

"Congresswoman Angie Craig has consistently been a champion of the Highway 169 Corridor," Kevin Burkart stated during a recent meeting. Burkart is a Prior Lake City Councilor and Chair of the Highway 169 Corridor Coalition. "The Coalition advocates for safety, congestion reduction, and economic vitality along the 169 Corridor from I-694 to Mankato. The US 169 and TH 282 intersection in Jordan is the last signalized intersection located within this 75-mile stretch from Mankato to the northern Twin Cities. Congresswoman Craig has secured $8 million for this interchange project, making a dramatic improvement to the 169 Corridor in the western portion of her District. Our appreciation to Angie and her team is immeasurable. They have been with us each step of the way as we move forward with this mission critical intersection improvement."

"Improving public safety and enhancing the efficient movement of people and goods throughout this region have always been two of our most significant priorities," said Scott County Board Chair Jon Ulrich. "This federal grant funding is essential to moving this project forward and helping us realize that goal."