MnDOT Says Stadium Road Upgrades To Cost $131M

ST. PAUL (AP) - The Minnesota Department of Transportation estimates it will cost $131 million to fix up roads near the proposed Vikings stadium site in Arden Hills.

That's $44 million less than the agency initially estimated. But it would still make up nearly half of the $300 million that Gov. Mark Dayton and key legislators insist is the cap on the state's contribution to stadium construction costs.

The Vikings and Ramsey County officials want state lawmakers to authorize a $1.1 billion stadium at the suburban site, and help fund it.

Disagreement over the cost of the transportation improvements has slowed the stadium bill's progress at the Capitol. But the stadium push still faces obstacles as GOP legislative leaders  insist it won't get resolved until after they agree on a state budget with Dayton.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)