Ramsey County, Vikings Have Road Payment Plan

ARDEN HILLS (AP) - A lobbyist says the Minnesota Vikings and Ramsey County have a plan to pay for about half the $131 million cost in road improvements for a new stadium site in Arden Hills.

Ramsey County lobbyist Nick Riley says the county could raise its share through grant money, toll lanes or a surcharge on car sales and the state would be asked to pay the other half of costs for commuter lanes.

Riley says the state Department of Transportation should cover the cost of those roads because they would be used mostly by commuters on Interstate 35W to and from downtown during the week.

The Vikings would need the lanes for about 10 home games a year.

The lanes would go in one direction for the morning commute and the other direction for the afternoon commute.