Congresswoman Angie Craig Submits Request for Dakota County to Receive $5 Million for Lakeville I-35 and County Highway 50 Interchange Project

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig announced her submission for Dakota County to receive $5,040,000 for the I-35 and County Highway 50 Interchange project in Lakeville. Craig submitted her request for Community Project Funding (CPF) for the Fiscal Year 2023 Appropriations process, through which Members of Congress are able to request funding for up to 15 specific projects in their districts which would serve the public good.

"I'm proud to announce my submission for Dakota County to receive federal support for this important project," said Representative Craig. "Residents of Dakota County have been waiting a long time to replace this interchange. The $5 million in funding would improve public safety, provide economic development opportunities and create jobs here in Dakota County."

"Lakeville is not only Dakota County's fastest-growing community, but it saw the largest population increase in the Twin Cities over the past decade," said Dakota County Board of Commissioners Chair Kathleen Gaylord. "The proposed interchange at Interstate 35 and County Road 50 will help enhance safety and accommodate increased traffic in this growing community."

"Since 2004, Lakeville has been working to replace the I-35 and County Highway 50 interchange. This $5 million would allow us to develop the final design plans for the reconstruction and put us one step closer towards ensuring that this interchange is effective and safe for motorists across Dakota County," said Lakeville Mayor Doug Anderson. "We appreciate Representative Craig's support and help in moving these projects forward."

The existing I-35 and County Highway 50 interchange does not have sufficient capacity, sight distance or turn lanes, which result in delays and safety issues in this growing area of Lakeville, Dakota County's largest city and the fastest growing city in Minnesota. The $5,040,000 requested will help design a reconstruction that will remove the constraints on County Highway 50 at I-35, improve traffic flow and safety and facilitate continued economic development. Once this design is completed, the project will be shovel ready and eligible for grant funding.

The House Appropriations Committee intends to fund community projects on a limited basis in the FY23 Appropriations bills. Therefore, CPF requests that address the most significant needs of local communities or provide a significant public good are more likely to be included. The CPF program is being implemented with accountability measures to ensure a responsible and transparent process.

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