Project Manager Newsletter
April 2026
Welcome to our April newsletter! This month I am focusing on the history of the Hwy 252/I-94 corridor.
When I became the project manager of this corridor in late 2023, the very first thing I did was research the history of this corridor. I wanted to learn when it was constructed, when other roads near Hwy 252/I-94 were built, the land use at the time, how far development had spread, and so on. In order to plan and develop for the corridor’s future, I needed to look back first.
This corridor had a long history of planning before construction started.
Between 1949 and 1965, there were preliminary plans, public hearings, Minneapolis Park Board approval and consideration on where I-94 should be.
The I-94/I-694/Hwy 252 interchange opened in 1965; however, there were still many discussions taking place to decide where I-94 should go.
Interestingly, an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) helped develop and complete portions of I-94 from I-394 to Hwy 152 (now, Brooklyn Blvd.) in Brooklyn Center in 1977. Parts of I-94 were then constructed over the next decade.
A small part of Hwy 252 was built with the I-94/I-694/Hwy 252 interchange in 1965, but the existing expressway wasn’t constructed until the 1980’s.
Safety issues began to pop up on Hwy 252 not long after its completion. In 1992, West River Road was closed in Brooklyn Park to thru traffic and remains that way today. A child crossing Hwy 252 at 85th Ave. in Brooklyn Park was struck and killed which resulted in the construction of the pedestrian/bicycle bridge in 2003. Hwy 252 has safety issues today, which are some of the driving factors for the environmental process MnDOT is conducting.
Hwy 252 has seen various corridor studies, including in 2014 and 2015 with MnDOT conducting a MnPASS study in 2018. Hennepin County also started and led an environmental study, which concluded in 2020 with the decision to move into an environmental impact statement (EIS) process.
Digging into historical maps, photos, and studies can only take me so far. I have really enjoyed hearing from many of you who have lived, worked, and played in this corridor for many years. This has helped build upon the rich history of this corridor. I welcome you all to continue to share them with me as we continue to find a solution to safety, vehicle mobility, and walkability and bikeability.
Question of the month: What recommendations have been made so far within the draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)?
The DEIS consists of two phases, with the first phase split in two.
Phase 1, the Hwy 252 recommendations, was split into Phase 1A, over or under, and Phase 1B which focused on access combinations. Phase 1A resulted in an “over” recommendation, meaning the highway goes over local roads. In Phase 1B, MnDOT recommended Access Combination 1.
Phase 2 is still under evaluation. Additional outreach activities are planned to inform the community about the mainline alternatives, and a Phase 2 website for the mainline alternatives will be available in early May for public review.