Project Information

Project Overview

The I-94 / Brockton Lane Interchange Project ultimately involves construction of a new interchange at or near the existing Brockton Lane overpass. It also includes improvements to the local roadway network, additional capacity along I-94 and functionality with the proposed Highway 610 interchange located approximately two miles south of the project area. The goal of these activities is to develop plans for a new interchange and supporting roadway system for the I-94 / Brockton Lane area that can be implemented over time. The project will be completed in the spring of 2012 and is intended to evaluate a number of design alternatives and select a preferred alternative. A design layout, environmental documentation, official mapping and municipal consent will be prepared for the preferred alternative. Additional funding is necessary to move the project to the next level of final design and construction.

Project Need

The I-94 / Brockton Lane Interchange is a critical transportation project located in the northwest metro region of the Twin Cities within the City of Dayton and City of Rogers. Located less than 20 miles from Minneapolis, the interchange project is of vital significance to the two communities and to the region as the I-94 corridor continues to experience safety issues, congestion and growth.

The location of the I-94 / Brockton Lane Interchange is in an area surrounded by some of the fastest growing communities in Minnesota, along the fastest growing corridor in the state and on one of its busiest freeways. Yet due to a lack of access along this nearly six-mile stretch of urban freeway, the area immediately surrounding the proposed interchange has remained largely undeveloped and underdeveloped.

Previous Studies

In 2008, the Northwest Hennepin County Sub-Area Study was completed in collaboration with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT), the Metropolitan Council, Hennepin County, five local communities including the Cities of Dayton, Rogers, Corcoran, Maple Grove and Hassan Township, and Hassan Mainstreet, LLC - the private developer representing the planned Stone's Throw development. The purpose of the plan was to investigate the local roadway system in northwest Hennepin County and the impacts interstate access at Brockton Lane may have on the area as a whole.

The results of the analysis indicated that a new interchange at Brockton Lane will help balance traffic on the overall system and improve safety by ensuring regional traffic use of the freeway system, rather than on local roadways. Three design concepts of what an I-94 / Brockton Lane Interchange might look like were developed as an outcome of the study. The Northwest Hennepin County Sub-Area Study will serve as a resource and framework from which preliminary engineering and design activities will be built upon.

The City of Dayton has developed a comprehensive redevelopment plan for the I-94 / Brockton Lane Interchange area that incorporates additional housing, commercial, industrial and office space in conjunction with transit services along I-94 and CSAH 81. This project is vital to realizing the City's plans to redevelop this area and maximize the economic benefits new access will provide.

In the City of Rogers, new development plans include the Stone's Throw development - a 630-acres mixed-use development located southwest of the proposed I-94 / Brockton Interchange area. This public-private partnership will include approximately 1,000 low to high density residential units, 140 acres of commercial, retail, office and mixed-use properties, and more than 200 acres of green and open space including over 14 miles of bike and walking paths.