MN 252 North Metro

North Metro

This page covers MN 252 from the I-94/I-694 interchange in Brooklyn Center to the MN 610 interchange in Brooklyn Park. Total length of this section is approximately 4.5 miles.

Description

A relatively new route, given the average age of Twin Cities area expressways, MN 252 was formerly a 2-lane "West River Road", and was the routing of US 169 prior to that. The southern part of MN 252 was upgraded to a 4/6-lane expressway on new location in the mid-80s, in conjunction with the first section of MN 610. The remainder of MN 252 was turned back to Hennepin County at that time (and became an extension of Hennepin CSAH 12).

Today, MN 252 is a 4.5 lane expressway with access limited to intersections and interchanges only, and combined with 610 serves as a connection between the northern suburbs and I-94 towards Minneapolis.

Roadway Configuration

Map will be part of a future update

6 lane expressway from I-94/694 to 73rd Ave N.
4 lane expressway north of 73rd Ave N.

Traffic

Map will be part of a future update

Moderate throughout

Average Daily Traffic Counts

Location	1980	1990	1998	2000	2010 Proj.	2020 Proj.	'80-'90 Change	'90-'00 Change	'80-'00 Change	'00-'20 Proj.
N of I-94/694	18,700	53,000	66,000	67,000	81,500	86,500	+183%	+26%	+258%	+29%
N of 66th Ave N	15,300	47,500	57,000	57,000	N/A	N/A	+210%	+20%	+273%	N/A
N of 70th Ave N	12,200	47,500	57,000	57,000	72,000	75,500	+289%	+20%	+367%	+32%
N of 73rd Ave N	11,000	46,500	53,000	56,000	N/A	N/A	+323%	+20%	+409%	N/A
N of Brookdale Dr	9,200	45,000	51,000	51,000	60,000	61,000	+389%	+13%	+454%	+20%
N of 81st Ave N	8,700	45,000	51,000	51,000	67,500	70,500	+417%	+13%	+486%	+38%
N of 85th Ave N	6,100	44,000	50,000	50,000	77,500	82,500	+621%	+14%	+720%	+65%

NOTE: Traffic counts for 1980 represent the old West River Rd alignment.
Traffic projections are from the Hennepin County Transportation System Plan.

Click HERE for the Exit List

Speed Limit

Map will be part of a future update

55 MPH throughout

Current Construction

None that I know of.

Future Plans

MnDOT has $20 million budgeted to extend the 3rd lane each direction the rest of the way up to MN 610. This is currently expected to occur around 2010.
Funding has been identified for a pedestrian overpass at 85th Ave N, an intersection that has been the scene for some tragic fatal accidents.

Froggie Suggests:

In addition to widening the remainder to 6 lanes, upgrade it to a freeway.
Provide interchanges at 66th Ave N, 73rd Ave N, and 85th Ave N.
Provide overpasses at Brookdale Dr and 81st Ave N.
Provide a bike/ped overpass at 70th Ave N.

Links

Last updated 5/25/04