The existing TH 101 southbound on-ramp loop to eastbound I-94 is currently over capacity with significant operational issues in the morning peak period along with inadequate turn lane storage on the existing bridge for westbound on-ramp traffic. The project includes the TH 101 and I-94 diamond interchange reconstruction to a diverging diamond interchange. This will provide safer operations along TH 101, a critical non-freeway Principal Arterial with its connection to a major regional facility I-94, a freeway Principal Arterial.

The DDI will improve TH 101 operations to/from I-94. At the TH 101 and South Diamond Lake Road intersection north of the interchange, there are double eastbound right-turn lanes and double westbound left-turn lanes feeding into three southbound through lanes. Westbound traffic includes a high volume of trucks traveling from the TA Travel Center. Most of this traffic wants to move into the far-right lane, to enter the eastbound single lane on-ramp loop. Trucks also have difficulty accelerating due to the grades, which creates unsafe weaving issues, congestion, and long queues. The new interchange design retains the three southbound through lanes from South Diamond Lake Road, however, it provides two lanes of traffic onto the eastbound on-ramp in place of a single on-ramp loop.

The upgraded interchange project improves other operational problems:

- Southbound congestion creates long queues where frustrated motorists bypass the on-ramp loop, continue southbound to make a U-turn at Industrial Boulevard to then enter the northbound to eastbound on-ramp. This move is extremely disruptive to local traffic.

- Heavy congestion and queuing increase the potential for rear-end and side-swipe crashes due to weaving along TH 101.

- High truck volumes create additional delays near the eastbound on-ramp loop due to slower truck speeds and acceleration.

The project provides multimodal benefits for bicyclists/pedestrians traveling south of I-94 to a variety of commercial uses north of I-94. A 0.4-mile segment of 10-foot trail on the east side of TH 101 will be replaced. Although a replacement, the crossing distances at the eastbound on-ramp and westbound off-ramp will be improved.

Under its current design, there are unsafe pedestrian crossings at the eastbound on-ramp due to the free right movement with no traffic signal protection. Pedestrian crossings at the westbound off-ramp are also difficult due to obscured sightlines and 70 feet of pavement to cross. At both ramp intersections, these crossing distances will be reduced.

The City of Rogers received $6,780,000 of federal Regional Solicitation funds through the Met Council to help fund this $8,500,000 project.

Coming Soon

TBD

Interstate 94 bisects the City of Rogers, from Rogers Drive in the southeast to 141st Avenue in the northwest. At present, there are only two bridges across the interstate in the city limits: Bridge 27945, a four-span prestressed concrete girder bridge on Main Street (TH 101); and Bridge 27944, a four-span steel girder bridge on 141st Avenue. Of these, only Bridge 27945 on Main Street has a pedestrian walkway on the Northbound side of the Bridge. Thus, it appears there is a justified need to safely move pedestrians across I-94.

The development of a pedestrian overpass will increase public safety and may improve public health by encouraging more recreation and travel across the city. A bridge would also reconnect the community, improving access to schools and housing. For example, constructing a pedestrian bridge over the freeway near 137th Avenue would link residents on either side of the highway, connecting the Fox Creek neighborhood to North Ridge and Sunnyside Estates neighborhoods. Children have been using a stormwater culvert to cross under the freeway. A new bridge would give them a safe alternative.

In July 2023 the City of Rogers engaged a consulting firm to begin the design of the new pedestrian bridge. It is hoped that construction could begin in the late fall of 2025.

This project is funded through the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) and State bonding funds.

Coming Soon

Construction to begin in the Fall of 2025.