Dakota County, in cooperation with the cities of Eagan and Inver Grove Heights, is conducting a design study of Lone Oak Road/70th Street West (County Road 26) from Highway 55/149 in Eagan to South Robert Trail (Highway 3) in Inver Grove Heights.
The design study will include a County Road 26 expansion from a undivided two-lane roadway to a divided two lane roadway with turn lanes at all public roadways, multi-use trails along both side of the roadway and a grade separated crossing (underpass) of the Mendota-Lebanon Greenway.
Background
The Regional Roadway System Visioning Study made recommendations for safety and capacity improvements to Lone Oak Road/ 70th Street (County Road 26) within the project area. These improvements included expanding Lone Oak Road/ 70th Street West from a two-lane roadway to a divided four-lane roadway. The study also recommended realigning Argenta Trail (County Road 63) from its intersection with Yankee Doodle Road (County Road 28) to north of Amana Trail, connecting Amana Trail between realigned Argenta Trail and South Robert Trail and high-volume, high-capacity intersection improvements to Argenta Trail at the Highway 55 intersection with the potential for a future interchange.
The County and City of Inver Grove Heights completed the Argenta Trail Realignment Study during fall 2014 to early 2015. The study recommended an alignment for County Road 63 (Argenta Trail) from south of Highway 55 to I-494, which was later adopted by both the Dakota County Board of Commissioners and the Inver Grove Heights City Council.
Current progress
In June, the County and the cities of Eagan and Inver Grove Heights presented an update on the County Road 26 study. At the open house, it was recommended to move forward with Option A for the County Roads 26 (70h Street West) and 63 intersection.
Option A includes shifting the County Roads 26 and 63 intersection east onto the future County Road 63 alignment. Option A will provide for improved intersection operations at the County Road 26 & 63 intersection and increased safety along both County Road 26 and 63.
With the recommendation of Option A for the County Road 26 and 63 intersection, the proposed expansion of County Road 26 will include the realignment of County Road 63 from Amana Trail to future 65th Street West.
Funding a project of this magnitude requires planning and consideration of outside funds (federal funding) to reduce local costs. As the County and the cities work through the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budgeting process and outside funding consideration, design work on the County Road 26 expansion is not anticipated to continue this year. The time frame for final design has not been determined. More information about the County and cities’ CIPs is anticipated in January 2019.
Public open house - Wednesday, June 6, 2018
Open House Presentation
Open House Displays
Option A Layout (revised Aug. 18, 2018)
*Option A Layout has been revised to note further evaluation of the 65th Street and existing Argenta Trail intersection will occur during final design.
Neighborhood meetings - Wednesday, Dec. 13 and Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017
Overall Project Layout - Full Buildout
County Road 26 Preliminary Plan & Profile
County Road 63 Preliminary Plan & Profile
Intersection Options A-C
County Roads 26 and 63 Project Update
Public open house - Monday, Nov. 6, 2017
Veterans Memorial Community Center, Inver Grove Heights
Open House Display Boards
Project Layout
Get email updates
To receive email updates for this project, email John Sass at john.sass@co.dakota.mn.us. Please include “CP 26-54 Updates” in the subject line.
