MnDOT presents local mitigation plans for Highway 252; council presses on sidewalks, roundabouts and school crossings

MnDOT and its consultants presented mitigation plans for three Brooklyn Park corridors affected by the proposed Trunk Highway 252 freeway conversion: 80th Avenue (from Hwy 252 to Lowell Avenue), the Humboldt–80th/James/Logan connector, and Brookdale Drive near an elementary school. The presentation summarized traffic‑volume scenarios, safety assessments and public outreach results and proposed a mix of pedestrian, bicycle and intersection improvements meant to reduce risk from higher local volumes as access patterns change with the freeway.

Ryan Wilson, MnDOT—s West Area Manager, described the project and introduced consultant staff. "We're really focused on the process, kind of walking through our phase 1a, 1b, 2," he said, locating the briefing in a continuing planning sequence. Brian Nemeth of the consultant team outlined the three target locations and the proposed measures: trails and sidewalks, improved lighting, accessible pedestrian signals, flashing yellow arrow left‑turn phasing, right‑turn lane geometry and targeted crossing hardware.

At 80th Avenue staff are proposing north‑ and south‑side trail segments, improved signal timing and lighting and some right‑turn lane…