A long-discussed interchange in Faribault was given life today when the Minnesota Senate heard legislation to conduct a feasibility study on the project. Senate File 2363, authored by Senator John Jasinski (R-Faribault), would appropriate $500,000 this year to study a proposed interchange at Interstate Highway 35 and County Road 9 in Rice County. The study will include estimated construction costs, traffic modeling, an environmental analysis, and a potential design layout for an interchange.

“After a decade of discussions, it is well past time to get this project off the ground,” said Senator Jasinski. “The north end of Faribault has seen rapid growth, to the point where virtually all of the existing industrial park land has been consumed. Aldi, Saint-Gobain/SageGlass, and Faribault Foods have all completed major projects or expansions.  In addition, the recent discussions of land annexation for industrial development on the north end of Faribault are growing signs for this important and needed interchange at County Road 9.  We have to be proactive going forward. Building this interchange would provide a major economic boost to Rice County, facilitate even greater growth and development, and ease truck traffic on the 30th Street NW and Lyndale Avenue on the south end of the business park in Faribault.

“This is only the beginning of the conversation; the interchange will not be built overnight,” added Senator Jasinski. “But the sooner we get the ball rolling, the sooner the interchange will become a reality.”

Funding for the study would come from the trunk highway fund.