County Project 42-163
Dakota County and the City of Apple Valley are designing improvements to County Road 42 and the city's utilities. The project is from from Redwood Drive to Pennock Avenue. The project's design is being finalized in 2026. It's based on discussions with the community since we completed the
County Highway 42 Management Plan.
Goals and final design concepts
The project goals are to best serve pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and nearby residents and businesses. The concepts include new traffic signals, improved multi-use trails, better turn lanes and new intersection controls. The planned changes will improve safety and help keep County Road 42 at four through lanes. The project will also
replace obsolete underground infrastructure including stormwater inlets and
pipes and the city’s water supply and sanitary sewer lines. From west to east, the concepts include:
- Redwood Drive – Little or no change anticipated (maintain and monitor the intersection as side-stop controlled with full access)
- Elm Drive and Redwood Park – Remove the traffic signal at Elm Drive and reconstruct the median to reduce left turns, concurrent with a new structure under County Road 42 for pedestrians and bicyclists to cross to each side of Redwood Park
- Garden View Drive – Replace the traffic signals, improve turn lanes and safety with short center medians, and improve the pedestrian crossings
- Trails and frontage roads – Improve the continuity of multi-use trails, including new sidewalks at all frontage road properties and shared bicycle use on the frontage roads
- Frontage Road on south side from Garden View Drive to 147th Street – Build a new retaining wall from Kent Lane to 147th Street, keeping the Kent Lane opening to County Road 42 and improving the 147th Street opening.
- Hayes Road – Replace the traffic signals, improve turn lanes, improve pedestrian crossings, and build pedestrian ramp improvements into the retaining wall
- 147th Street to Pennock Avenue – Reconstruct the median at 147th Street to reduce left turns and improve multi-use trails and frontage road east to Pennock Avenue
- City utility work and new lighting– Replace water and sewer utility lines at all nearby properties with roadway and sidewalk construction. Install more lighting in the median.
Public open house #4 - April 16, 2026
Join us for the next open house meeting:
Thursday, April 16, 5-7 p.m.
Apple Valley Senior Center (Yosemite Room)
14601 Hayes Road, Apple Valley
View the project design, ask project staff questions and share your feedback. If you can't make the meeting, the materials will be posted by April 16.
Public open house #3 - June 3, 2025
Open House #3 Display Boards
Open House #3 Presentation Slides
Open House Presentation Video
Public open house #2 - June 17, 2024
Open House #2 Presentation (June 2024)
Public open house #1 - Nov. 15, 2023
Open House #1 Presentation (November 2023)
Design Options
You can also sign up for project emails and provide comments and questions online.
Sign up for project emails and give feedback
Tentative project schedule
- 2026: Final engineering design and right-of-way process. We are working with owners to address easement needs at properties. Let us know if you have any questions.
- 2027 and 2028: Construction
For assistance or more information
Please contact the county's project manager if you have questions or need assistance with posted information.
Doug Abere, Project Manager
952-891-7101
doug.abere@co.dakota.mn.us