Mendota Heights To Take Ownership Of A Section Of Old Sibley Memorial Highway

Press release from the City of Mendota Heights:

April 9, 2021

Action will Keep This Segment of the Road Open

At its meeting of April 6, the City Council agreed to take ownership from MnDOT the 1.35 mile section of Old Sibley Memorial Highway, from just west of St. Peter’s Church, to its intersection of TH13, near the Big Rivers Trailhead.

For years MnDOT has looked to “turn back” lesser used sections of road on its system to the counties or cities in which the roadways are located. MnDOT has been negotiating with the City regarding this section since the early 1990’s.

The City Council specified that in exchange for taking ownership, MnDOT would first have to resurface the road, and install curb to provide for a good driving surface. In addition, the City will also now qualify for increased state maintenance funding by agreeing to take over the road.

Approximately 2550 vehicles per day drive this section of highway. Had the City not agreed to take ownership, MnDOT’s plan was to close the road just east of the two businesses which front it, and those vehicles would have been forced to detour to other streets in Mendota Heights.

Once this action completed, it will assure that this segment of road will remain open to traffic for years to come.

This press release was produced by the City of Mendota Heights. The views expressed here are the author’s own.