Final year of safety improvements project underway

On Thursday, March 31, Hennepin County returned to the County Road 92 safety improvements at Highway 12 project in Independence for our final year of work.

Begun in 2021, the project will make safety improvements at two locations where County Road 92 intersects with Highway 12. The improvements are the result of both a collaborative engagement and design efforts between the county, the City of Independence, Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Highway 12 Safety Coalition.

Last year, we completed a significant amount of earthwork throughout the project area to stabilize and strengthen the foundations for the new road alignment and bridge on County Road 92. We also constructed the new frontage road and cul-de-sac off along Highway 12. 

This year, you will see crews on-site to continue work on County Road 92 and begin construction for the new County Road 92 and Highway 12 intersection.

View aerial videos of the project's progress (YouTube)

2022 construction schedule

This year, you will see these county construction activities:

• Completion of the County Road 92 bridge over Highway 12
• Completion of the Highway 12 and County Road 92 roundabout
• A new alignment of County Road 92

We will construct the new intersection in stages to limit impacts for users of both County Road 92 and Highway 12.

Spring to fall: Highway 12 and County Road 92 north leg

On April 18, we have begun work on Highway 12 to construct the new intersection and continue work on the north leg of County Road 92. This work will be weather dependent. We expect to complete construction on Highway 12 in the fall.

Fall: County Road 92 north and south legs

In the fall, crews will continue to work on the north leg of County Road 92 and will return to the south leg, in order to place County Road 92 in its new alignment. We will send out more detailed information about the timing of this work as we have updates to share.

Learn more about the County Road 92 project

The planned improvements at County Road 92 are the result of both a collaborative engagement and design efforts between the county, the cities, MnDOT and the Highway 12 Safety Coalition.

Features of the new roadway include:

• A new multi-lane roundabout that reduces the two intersections down to one
• A realigned County Road 92 and bridge over Highway 12 and BNSF Railroad
• A new County Road 92 curve and intersection at Lake Sarah Road

We will construct the new intersection in stages to maintain as much access as possible on Highway 12 and County Road 92 users. Barring any delays, we anticipate completing all major construction activities by fall 2022.

When complete, the project will provide a better experience and enhance the safety of people driving in the area.

2021 events

County Road 92 at Highway 12 construction open house

On Wednesday, September 8, Hennepin County hosted a virtual construction open house for the County Road 92 at Highway 12 safety improvements project. At the open house, staff shared a short presentation about the planned improvements, access and impacts, timing and staging of the work.

Download the virtual open house presentation (PDF).

Highway 12 corridor safety improvements virtual open house

The Minnesota Department of Transportation hosted a virtual construction open house on March 2021.

The open house focused on sharing upcoming Spring construction on Highway 12 to include:

• Highway 12 median barrier project between 6th Avenue (County Road 6) and Baker Park Road (County Road 29)
• Roundabout project at the Highway 12 and County Road 90 intersection

Hennepin County staff were also in attendance to provide a brief update about the County Road 92 safety improvement project in Independence.

2020 events

Online design open house

In 2020, Hennepin County created an online resource that people could visit at any time. The county shared the final design, renderings and models of how traffic will move safer and better. Visitors learned more about:

• A new multi-lane roundabout that reduces the two intersections down to one
• A realigned County Road 92 and bridge over Highway 12 and BNSF Railroad
• A new County Road 92 curve and intersection at Lake Sarah Road
• You will also learn about next steps as we move toward final design and construction.

County Road 92 safety improvements at Highway 12 design

2019 events

Design alternatives open house

Hennepin County, Minnesota Department of Transportation and the City of Independence hosted an open house on July 11, 2019 at Independence City Hall.

The open house focused on sharing three possible design alternatives where attendees could review, evaluate and provide feedback on each alternatives, as well as find out how to stay informed as the project moves forward, including additional opportunities to provide feedback.

MnDOT project staff were also in attendance to provide updates on Highway 12 Corridor safety improvements, which includes the County Road 90 intersection roundabout and center concrete barrier projects in Independence and Maple Plain.

2018 events

Early designs open house

Hennepin County, Minnesota Department of Transportation and the City of Independence hosted an open house for three safety improvements projects on October 2, 2018 at Independence City Hall.

The open house focused on providing residents with information of Hennepin County's County Road 92 intersection safety improvements project and MnDOT's Highway 12 and County Road 90 intersection safety improvements project.

Hennepin County

• Zachary Rothstein, P.E.
  County Road 92 project manager for construction
  zachary.rothstein@hennepin.us
  Phone: 612-596-0410

• Nathan Ellingson, P.E.
  County Road 92 project manager for design
  nathan.ellingson@hennepin.us
  Phone: 612-596-0375

• Nick Kim
  County Road 92 project community liaison
  nick.kim@hennepin.us
  Phone: 612-543-4255

Minnesota Department of Transportation

• Aaron Tag, P.E.
  Highway 12 corridor project manager for design
  aaron.tag@state.mn.us
  Phone: 612-234-7880