https://www.dot.state.mn.us/d3/graphics2/futureprojects.pdf

https://www.dot.state.mn.us/d3/projects/h65cambridge-braham/

It has been over 30 years since the Highway 65 Cambridge bypass was completed in 1993.  A 6.5 mile segment of Highway 65, between the North end of the 4 lanes, North of Cambridge and the Highway 65/107 Junction Southwest of Braham remains an outdated 2 lane corridor with safety and operational deficiencies, as well as higher than average frequency of serious crashes.  I have witnessed more than enough incidents where someone had to hit their brakes and/or pull over to avoid a serious crash, when someone else attempts to pass or cross in an insufficient traffic gap.  During high demand traveling seasons, Northbound traffic backs up North of Cambridge when travelers from the twin cities head North, Southbound traffic backs up near the Highway 65/107 junction when travelers head back towards the Twin cities.  In Grandy, the spacing between the existing highway and the parallel railroad tracks is inadequate to allow large tractor/trailers to clear the railroad when waiting to access highway 65.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation has plans to rehabilitate this existing 2 lane corridor in 2026, to address deteriorating pavement conditions.  According to the MN DOT website link above, this project has an estimated cost of nearly $14 million, and will require closure and detour of this segment of Highway 65.  The minor improvements planned within this project, such as additional turn lanes will NOT properly address the safety and operational deficiencies along this corridor.  Closing Highway 65 North of Cambridge will result in sending over 12,000 vehicles (on an average day) to over 30,000 (Estimated on a busy summer Friday) onto county roads with inconsistent alignments, or further East (I 35), or West (Hwy 47).  In 2026, Highway 95 through Cambridge will be under construction with it's long awaited expansion project, and therefore, will NOT be a viable route to carry any additional traffic to alternative routes to the West.  Sending Highway 65 traffic onto Highway 95 toward any alternative routes to the East will result in severe traffic congestion on 95 in the East end of Cambridge.  The only benefit of MN DOT's current plans is a smoother road surface that will last 20+ years.  We can NOT wait another 20 year for this segment of Highway 65 to be properly upgraded.

We strongly urge the Minnesota DOT to hold off on it's current 2026 rehabilitation plans.  A much less expensive micro overlay of the asphalt pavement only requires periodic lane restrictions during non peak hours, and could be done in short term, to prevent further deterioration until the highway gets properly upgraded.  MN DOT, as well as Isanti county and the Highway 65 corridor coalition are strongly urged to plan for this segment of highway 65 to be upgraded and expanded into a 4 lane expressway, within the next 10 years.  With a typical 4 lane expansion project, the 2 new lanes gets built during the first season, then upon completion, 2 way traffic is temporarily placed onto the new 2 lanes while the original 2 lanes gets properly rebuilt for directional traffic.  This eliminates the need to fully close and detour this busy highway.  Funding should be obtained from the corridor of commerce, and/or other sources, which are often being spent irresponsibly to upgrade other highways with much lower traffic volumes.

It is important to note that in the mid 2000's, the Minnesota DOT had plans to expand this segment of Highway 65 to 4 lanes during the 2012-2014 timeframe, but unfortunately canceled this plan around 2009-2010, due to funding challenges.  Ironically, Highway 23 got expanded to 4 lanes from East of Highway 95 to the West end of Foley in 2012.  This segment of 23 has lower traffic volumes (7,000 VPD) than 65 South of 107 (over 11,000 VPD).  The last 4 lane project on Highway 23, From the East end of the St Cloud urban limits to just East of Highway 95, was done in 1995, 17 years prior to the 2012 extension.  Recently, Highway 23 had 2 projects done to form a continuous 4 lane corridor between Willmar and St Cloud.  Both of these Gaps have approximately 7,000 VPD.  There may be higher volumes of large commercial vehicles traveling on Highway 23 between Willmar and St Cloud, however, Highway 23 does NOT experience the peak of recreational traffic and subsequent backups known on Highway 65, which connects the twin cities to multiple regions in northern Minnesota.  Also, there are other highways in Minnesota with lower traffic volumes than 65 that has been expanded to 4 lanes within the past 2 decades, including Highway 53, North of the 53/169 junction North of Virginia (similar to the 65/107 junction), and Highway 14, in Southern MN.  This simply proves the MN DOT doesn't always prioritize projects in a responsible manner.

An additional 6.5 miles of 4 lane expressway type corridor towards the Highway 65/107 junction, Southwest of Braham will greatly benefit all commuters, travelers, and freight haulers traveling on and in the vicinity of this corridor.  Improving mobility and safety along this segment of Highway 65 will also greatly benefit the economy in East Central Minnesota.