Senators Bruce Anderson (R-Buffalo) and Eric Lucero (R-St. Michael) co-authored legislation during the 2023 legislative session to fund the final phase of I-94 expansion between Albertville and Monticello, also known as the gap project, and this week the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) announced $78 million funding for the needed work. Construction to complete the gap project is expected to begin in early 2024.

“I am thrilled to see our community secure the final funding needed for the I-94 expansion,” Sen. Anderson said. “This project will boost the regional economy and lower local traffic congestion. Thank you to the community leaders who got this to the finish line.”  

Major work has occurred on the 39-mile section of I-94 between Maple Grove and Clearwater in recent years including additional lanes in both lanes from Maple Grove to Clearwater, auxiliary fourth-lane additions between Hwy 610 and Hwy 101, and construction of the interchange at Dayton Parkway. Sen. Lucero chief authored and co-authored many roads & bridges bills in previous years that contributed to funding the earlier phases of I-94 expansion work, including the 2017 Corridors of Commerce funding that was signed into law and used by MnDOT.

“Completing the I-94 expansion between Albertville and Monticello is a giant victory not only for our great community but for many across the entire State of Minnesota. I-94 is heavily traveled by tens of thousands of people who often get caught in very frustrating traffic congestion. Roads and bridges transportation funding continues to be among my top priorities in the Legislature,” Sen. Lucero said. “Many people put in tremendous work to earn this achievement for our area and I am grateful for the continued support from constituents, local businesses, and community leaders.”

The completed expansion will reduce congestion, improve safety, provide a smoother ride, extend the life of the highway, improve freight access, stimulate economic development, prepare for growth, and provide additional distribution to other arterial routes.

The Minnesota Legislature has provided $403 million in funding for the fourth round of Corridors of Commerce appropriations. The legislature previously approved $250 million in 2021 and $153 million in 2023. From the current round of funding, $22 million will be set aside for project readiness activities for potential future Corridors of Commerce candidate projects.

The Corridors of Commerce program was established by the Minnesota Legislature in 2013 to direct transportation investments toward state highway projects that directly and indirectly promote economic development in the state. The program is separate from MnDOT’s regular State Road Construction program, and funding is contingent on legislative appropriation and requires specific criteria for project eligibility and scoring,