Rice To Get New Hwy 10 Interchange

ST. PAUL -- Motorists who use Highway 10 between St. Cloud and the northwoods will be glad to hear about plans to build a diamond shaped-interchange at the intersection in the city of Rice.

The project will remove the traffic signals and greatly improve safety while easing congestion there.

Claudia Dumont is the Project Manager for MnDOT. She says construction will cost $19.9-million and another $8.4-million in right-of-way costs.

Dumont says a state grant will pay for $14.5-million of the construction costs.  She says it was a competitive process.  The submissions which showed the greatest safety needs and reduced the most congestion were awarded the grants.

Benton County will be required to come up with a $3.2-million local match, and MnDOT will budget for the right-of-way costs.

The new interchange will be built in either 2013 or 2014 and will create east and west bridges that will carry Highway 10 over Benton County Road 2.