To bring attention to the needs of the US-169 corridor, in 2008 communities and counties, from Mankato in Blue Earth County to Bloomington and
Edina in Hennepin County, began a series of meetings. In the spring of 2009, the U.S. Highway 169 Corridor Coalition was officially established to
advocate for the corridor.
The Challenges
US-169 is a robust, multi-modal transportation corridor that is important to the state and bordering communities. Challenges to its ongoing success include:
Investment in a solution to one of the most congested interchanges in the Regional Interstate/Arterial Roadway System, i.e. I-494/US-169.
Identification of the US-169 corridor as an important regional transit corridor.
Enhancements to important connections between rail, roads and transit within the corridor.
Improvements that better connect the southern portion of the corridor to state, regional and international markets, such as those served by the
Ports of Savage, one of the nation’s most critical intermodal freight-moving facilities.
Underlying Land Use and Transportation Planning
In its efforts to ensure the continuing viability of US-169, the U.S. Highway 169 Corridor Coalition is building on extensive studies and plans that have
already been completed. Major plans include:
TH 169 Corridor, Belle Plaine Area Plan. MnDOT, Scott County,
City of Belle Plaine, Belle Plaine Township, Blakely Township, St. Lawrence Township; completed in 2003.
