The Minnesota Department of Transportation announced Wednesday that all four lanes on Minnesota Highway 101 and on Hennepin County Highway 144 will both be opened some time during the day.
The new diverging diamond intersection (DDI) on County Road 144 under 101 will be something new for drivers to navigate and MnDOT warns that it “can be a little confusing at first.”
Before you head-out check outMoDOT’s YouTube simulation of how to drive through a DDI. It may help ease your mind.
Lastly, MnDOT asks drivers to remember the speed limit through the intersection on County Road 144 under Highway 101 is lower than what it is on the roads leading toward the DDI.
The $14.6 million project was part of several designed improvements on Highway 101 through Rogers and Otsego.
The project:
- Replaced existing signalized intersection with a Diverging Diamond Interchange
- Lowered County Road 144 approximately six feet at Hwy 101 and built Hwy 101 over the county road
- Updated pedestrian crossings to meet modern accessibility standards
- Updated signing and lighting to meet the needs of a Diverging Diamond Interchange
- Closed highway access at 147th Avenue – there will be no access to Hwy 101 from 147th Avenue
- Signals at James Road and 147th Avenue
- Installed new signal at County Road 144 and Rogers Drive/James Road intersection
- Resurfaced Hwy 101 between the interchange and the Crow River
- Resurfaced Hwy 101 between the interchange and the S. Diamond Lake Road
MnDOT said periodic lane closures may be needed through the next few weeks to complete the construction work, but the bulk of the project is complete and will be open to traffic.