VIDEO: Zweifel Gives Tour of Highway 3 Underpass Project

Northfield Patch recently caught up with Northfield City Councilor Erica Zweifel to get a video tour of the Highway 3 underpass project. 

It's a project that's been more than a year in the making and, in December 2011, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced that Northfield was awarded a $1,060,000 TIGER grant toward building the underpass on Highway 3 near Greenvale Avenue, connecting to Second Street East in downtown.

The Northfield City Council three months prior had voted to apply for the grant toward the estimated $1.56 million project. The council pledged to put a $500,000 matching fund toward the project.

Zweifel said the underpass will connect the west and east sides of the community and reclaim the west side of downtown. In addition to increasing safety for pedestrians and motorists alike, Zweifel said it will also provide opportunity for Greenvale Park Elementary to have walking field trips to downtown to visit the Northfield Arts Guild, Northfield Historical Society and other places.

Plans for the TIGER trail are complete, subject to approval of a design variance from the Minnesota Department of Transportation, according to City Engineer Joe Stapf on the city website. A public information meeting for the final design is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 20, in the second floor training room of Northfield City Hall. 

Construction is planned for May through October 2013.

Bicyclists and pedestrian advocates were more than pleased with receiving the grant last year.

"My Council colleague, Erica Zweifel, deserves a huge round of applause for her leadership in bringing this project forward, soliciting community support, and working with Bolton & Menk preparing the application," Councilor Betsey Buckheit wrote on her blog following the announcement.

TIGER grants are handed out by the U.S. Department of Transportation for infrastructure projects.  St. Olaf College, the Northfield Grass Roots Transit Initiative and other groups were instrumental in providing support and encouragement in getting the city to apply for the grant.

Project highlights*

• Addresses a safety need with a grade-separated off-street crossing
• Connects a pedestrian underpass to a surrounding street and sidewalk network  
• Improves access between residential and college areas and downtown 

Project benefits*

The project will improve pedestrian and bicycle access between residential and college areas in the western portions of Northfield and the downtown area, improve safety conditions for motorized and non-motorized travelers, and will provide a grade-separated mixed-use off-street crossing of Trunk Highway 3 in Northfield, MN. The project represents a widespread community effort to improve safety in an area where 23 percent of all commutes made by residents are nonmotorized. The project is supported by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT), Progressive Rail, Union Pacific Rail, the two colleges, and other organizations.

* According to the USDOT

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