Baxter may incur costs exceeding $4 million related to the proposed Highway 371 overpass project, according to a summary provided in a memo from city staff on January 14, 2024. The city’s financial estimate details approximately $3 million for street improvements, $123,790 for storm sewer upgrades, and $815,660 for water infrastructure, among other expenses. The memo outlines the potential for the city to assess $1.6 million of these costs.
In addition to the overpass, the city has requested dual left turn lanes at the intersection of Glory Road and College Road. An independent review supports this request, estimating an additional $1.9 million in costs, which would be shared equally between Baxter and the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), with each entity contributing $950,000.
The memo emphasizes that the proposed projects are both feasible and constructable. It states, “The City has potential funding sources available that would not adversely affect the taxpayers of Baxter.” This assurance comes as the City Council prepares to vote on municipal consent for the $58 million Highway 371 and Highway 210 interchange project, with a design featuring five new roundabouts.
Funding Sources and Project Impact
Several potential funding sources are outlined in the memo, including $3,060,580 in state aid, which may be advanced to the city over five years. Additional funds could come from water and sewer enterprise funds, totaling around $1 million in special assessments from the Fairview Road extension area. The city is also pursuing a 20-year extension of the local option sales tax, which requires both state and local approval.
The city has allocated $16 million specifically for street transportation improvements. These improvements are crucial for infrastructure and safety enhancements along the regional highways that intersect with Highways 371 and 210. The memo explains, “These improvements are essential to maintaining efficient traffic circulation, preventing the diversion of vehicles onto inappropriate residential routes, and ensuring the continued functionality of Baxter’s local street system.”
The proposed overpass necessitates significant modifications to Baxter’s utility systems, particularly concerning the sanitary sewer and water distribution systems. The city asserts that these local improvements must be integrated into the project timeline, either before, during, or immediately following MnDOT’s construction of the overpass, which is expected to be completed by 2029.
Details of Proposed Infrastructure Changes
The city has identified several specific project areas that require attention as a direct consequence of the overpass construction. Key initiatives include realigning Elder Drive, extending Fairview Road to Excelsior Road, and constructing dual left turn lanes at the Glory Road and College Road intersection.
Plans also involve the permanent closure of the three-quarter intersection at Highway 210 and Elder Drive, leading to Costco. A new three-quarter intersection will be established at Isle Drive, which will necessitate additional turn lanes and roadway construction to accommodate increased traffic flow.
Anticipating a surge in commercial traffic at the Glory Road and College Road intersection with the new overpass, city officials express concern about vehicles making eastbound left turns from Glory Road onto Highway 371. The memo notes that while dual left-turn lanes from College Road to southbound Highway 371 were not initially prioritized, improvements at this intersection may require significant adjustments, including signal pole replacements and lane configurations.
MnDOT has indicated that further projects are anticipated for 2032, which will also include adjustments to water mains and sanitary sewer systems. As Baxter moves forward with these plans, city leaders remain focused on ensuring that the necessary infrastructure improvements align seamlessly with the broader objectives of the Highway 371 overpass project.
