Ham Lake; marked Trunk Highway 65 and Bunker Lake Boulevard Northeast interchange improvements funding provided, and money appropriated.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Nolan West

One-time $16.5 million funding for TH 65 at Bunker Lake Blvd interchange in Ham Lake to cover planning, design, right-of-way, and construction through 2031.

Introduction and first reading, referred to Transportation Finance and Policy

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Purpose

HF 4996 proposes a one-time appropriation to fund interchange improvements at the marked Trunk Highway 65 (TH 65) and Bunker Lake Boulevard Northeast in Ham Lake, Anoka County. The primary objective is to support the planning, design, right-of-way, and construction activities required to upgrade the interchange and related frontage/backage roads within the trunk highway system.

Key Provisions

Funding Source and Amount

Creates a onetime appropriation of $16,500,000 from the State Trunk Highway Fund.

Fiscal Year and Availability

The appropriation is designated for fiscal year 2027.
Funds are available until June 30, 2031 (i.e., four years past the start of the appropriation period to complete eligible activities).

Eligible Activities

The funds are authorized for a broad suite of project activities related to the interchange:
Preliminary engineering
Environmental documentation
Final design
Right-of-way acquisition
Construction
The projects are specifically for interchange improvements along TH 65 at Anoka County State-Aid Highway 116 (Bunker Lake Boulevard Northeast) and related frontage/backage roads within the trunk highway system.

Geographic Scope

The project area is located in Anoka County and the City of Ham Lake.

Project Scope Label

Referred to as improvements to the marked TH 65 interchange with Bunker Lake Boulevard Northeast.

Who/What Is Affected

State Government

Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) is the recipient of the funds for engineering, environmental, design, right-of-way, and construction work.

Local Jurisdictions

City of Ham Lake and Anoka County may be involved in project development, property acquisitions, and coordinating with MnDOT.

Public Infrastructure

The traveling public and local traffic will be affected by the interchange improvements, potentially improving safety, traffic flow, and congestion at the TH 65 and Bunker Lake Boulevard Northeast interchange.

Procedural and Timeline Details

Legislative Status

Introduced as HF 4996 in the Minnesota House of Representatives, 94th Session.
Referred to the Committee on Transportation Finance and Policy on April 16, 2026.

Implementation Timeline

The appropriation is for FY 2027 with funds available through June 30, 2031, indicating a multi-year project development and construction window aligned with typical large transportation projects.

Onetime Appropriation

Characterized as a one-time allocation, implying no guarantee of ongoing annual funding beyond the specified appropriation.

Potential Impacts and Considerations

If enacted, the bill provides a concrete funding pathway to upgrade a key interchange, which could:

Improve traffic safety and reliability in the Ham Lake area.
Enhance freight and commuter movement on TH 65 and surrounding local roads.
Require coordination with local agencies for right-of-way and environmental processes.

The long availability window (until 2031) offers flexibility to complete environmental reviews, design iterations, and construction sequencing.

This summary captures the bill’s main purpose, funding details, scope, and timeline. If you’d like, I can add a brief comparative note with similar Minnesota interchange projects or a potential risk assessment (e.g., cost changes, permitting delays).

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