Wanna go west, young man? Well, if you’re hopping on Interstate 94, you’ll no longer have to go up to Hasty to do so.
The infamous “Go Hasty” detour is set to come down this weekend, to the joy of many Monticello drivers. The detour, which sent westbound Interstate 94 traffic looking to hit the freeway in Monticello up Wright County Highway 75, was set to come down this week in time for those looking to escape Riverfest weekend.
The Highway 25 westbound ramp is re-opening to traffic in this next phase of the road reconstruction project on Interstate 94 through Monticello (Wright County 18 to Highway 25). The cloverleaf that allows westbound traffic at County Road 18 to get on the westbound freeway is still closed, however. So those in eastern Monticello will have to head up to the busy 25/94 intersection to get on.
An overview of the I-94 construction project in Monticello, which will tie up traffic for much of this year’s construction season. (MnDOT graphic)
Minnesota Department of Transportation supervisor Kirk Allen, of District 3, told the Monticello Times last week that the weather has been a huge obstacle in the pavement replacement project. Frost in the ground delayed the project’s beginning into late April, which was soon followed by the wettest June on state record. Dry weather for early July has allowed crews to make up some ground, but the pavement project remains about three weeks behind.
Shafer Construction, lead contractor on the project, is working with the state on a plan to get the project completed on time, the Times reported.
The new road will include auxiliary lanes between both west and eastbound 94 and the two major exits. The westbound auxiliary lane will run to the ramp at Highway 25, while the eastbound will tail into the ramp on County Highway 18. Both could be met by expansion soon after District 3 picks up the Interstate 94 project. Leaders are looking to push for three lanes from St. Michael’s Highway 241 (set to be expanded from Rogers this year) through Albertville and up to Monticello.
State Sen. Mary Kiffmeyer said she’s already set to carry a bill applying for funds to expand 94 through Albertville in the 2015 Legislative Session.
“That’s something we can push in the next session and in sessions to come,” she said at a groundbreaking for the 94 expansion project recently. “Corridors of Commerce funds might be necessary to keep that going, but there’s no doubt in anyone’s mind this is a project worth the money. Interstate 94 needs to be six lanes to St. Cloud. That’s a no-brainer.”