Land Costs Push Hwy 15 Interchange Project Higher

ST. CLOUD -- A new interchange at Highway 15 and Stearns County Road 120 is expected to cost about $2.5 million more than anticipated.

MnDOT Project Manager Claudia Dumont says it has to do with the right-of-way acquisition.  She says it turns out MnDOT will have to buy some right-of-way land they thought could be dedicated by the local jurisdictions. Dumont says the total cost of the project could be as high as $20-million.

The project is being paid for with a $10-million Greater Minnesota Interchange Grant, money from MnDOT's Destination Innovations Fund and some local participation.

Construction is scheduled to get underway in the spring but the St. Cloud City Council has yet to sign off on the design because of access concerns of nearby properties.