Public gives input on Hwy. 99 reconstruction

Locals had the opportunity to share their vision for a new and improved Highway 99 in an open house with the Minnesota Department of Transportation Tuesday.

At the Le Center City Hall, community members were invited to give the transportation agency their thoughts on how the roadway running through Le Center could be made safer as MnDOT prepares to evaluate the corridor for reconstruction. Around a dozen people attended the open house, and many more provided input at MnDOT’s booth during the Kickoff to Summer event in the Courthouse Park.

MnDOT Public Affairs Coordinator Anne Wolff said the agency was still scoping out the project and what elements will make it into the reconstruction, tentatively planned for 2029, have yet to be determined. Input from the public will help shape the design alternatives for the project, which will be presented for further feedback in the late summer or fall of this year.

“[We’re] asking for input from the community right now on what’s working, what areas are sitting good, where are some problematic areas,” said Wolff. “We’ll be coming back to the public again when we have some alternatives, some concepts that are reflective of some of that feedback.”

Community members could signal their top wants for the project, which covers Highway 99 between the intersections of Maple Avenue and Cordova Avenue, by placing marbles in two of a selection of six jars representing different priorities. Based on the tally, Le Center residents chose safety, bicycle and pedestrian accommodations and speed management as their top priorities for the project.

“There will be some tradeoffs for things that take more priority than others when we start designing alternatives,” said Wolff. “So we look at those alternatives and some of these will be reflected there.”

Visitors also left comments on post-it notes on a map of the project area detailing their desires and concerns. Several community members pointed out the high level of pedestrian crossings near the Le Center swimming pool as well as Park and Montgomery Avenue. The intersections of Maple Avenue and Park were also pointed out to MnDOT as safety concerns.

A central driver of the project is the poor condition of the pavement on Highway 99. The roadway is littered with cracks spanning the full width of the street.

“One of the main drivers of this project was the pavement,” said MnDOT Engineer Peter Engelmeyer. “The city’s sanitary and weather is pretty old and in need of replacement, so we’re lining this project up so we can take care of the city utility needs and the pavement needs.