Dayton Pledges Support for Four-Lane Bridge on Highway 101 in Shakopee

Gov. Mark Dayton, who spent part of Friday afternoon in Shakopee, threw his support behind a four-lane flood-mitigation bridge on Highway 101.

 “I think a four-lane bridge makes a lot of sense,” he said, referring to an estimate presented which put the cost at only $6 million more than a $31 million two-lane bridge. “Let’s do it right.”

He then joked that his opinion is “more or less irrelevant” because he isn’t the transportation commissioner, drawing laughs from the approximately 50 local and state officials and others at the .

Officials have been working to elevate the Highway 101 bridge for years because flooding of the Minnesota River has closed it three times in the past two years. Trends show that continuing, according to Lezlie Vermillion, Scott County Deputy administrator, who presented the case for the project moving forward.

With 21,000 vehicles traveling on that bridge every day, there is a significant economic and social consequence when the passage is closed off, she said.

Sen. Claire Robling (R-Jordan), who set up the meeting, said Scott and Carver counties have done a good job of preparing for the swift population growth in the past decade, but that they can’t do it all by themselves.

“That’s our ask today,” she said. “Some continued partnership with the state.”

Dayton said if $25 million comes through in funds set aside for flood mitigation, he’d work to secure the remaining amount. Exactly who will receive flood mitigation funds will be announced in the next two weeks, but State Transportation Commissioner Tom Sorel believes the Highway 101 has a good chance because it fits funding guidelines.