Blaine CityConnect 105th Avenue Funding is Approved by Legislature
Construction to Begin Late Summer
With the passing of the State bonding bill this spring, the City has secured enough funding to move the project forward. The project includes two through lanes in each direction as well as raised medians with dedicated left turn lanes at critical intersections. The design also includes two three-leg roundabouts; one will be constructed at the main access to the south campus of the National Sports Center and the other at the new access to the National Sports Center north campus. Several major design components were added to increase safety along the project corridor. The design components will aid in slowing speeds of vehicles and enhance pedestrian safety. The key components to reducing vehicular speeds include the addition of two roundabouts. The roundabouts will enable the city to lower the speed limit on the corridor from the existing 50 mph to 40 mph. Another speed reducing component includes a raised center median between Davenport Street NE and Radisson Road. The raised center medians provide a narrower feel to drivers, versus the expansive pavement cross section that exists today. Raised medians along with the travel lanes reduced from 12 feet to 11 feet, will aid in reducing vehicles speeds. Pedestrian safety will be accomplished with the addition of trails and sidewalks along the corridor. The design includes a trail along the north side of 105th Avenue NE from Davenport Street NE to Radisson Road. It will also have a concrete walk along the south side of the roadway from the western entrance to the athletic sports fields east of the drainage ditch to Radisson Road. There are also concrete walks on both sides of the roadway from Baltimore Street NE to TH 65. Pedestrian crossing of 105th Avenue will be available at Davenport Street NE and at both roundabouts. City Council will consider awarding the contract at the July 13 City Council meeting. Tentative construction startup is anticipated for the middle of August. The project will be constructed in two phases; the north side will be constructed first with two-way traffic being pushed to the south two lanes. Depending on the timing and weather, the second phase may start as early as this fall, but most likely start in early spring of 2108. Phase two construction will also be constructed under traffic with two-way traffic pushed to the newly constructed north lanes. The entire project is scheduled to be complete by summer of 2018. For project information, and to view and sign up for the latest project status updates, visit BlaineMN.gov/14-11.
July/August July/August 2017 2017
USA Cup and 3M Championship Coming this Summer
Blaine will become a popular destination again this summer as tens of thousands of visitors come to the city for two major annual sporting events.
Schwan’s USA Cup July 14-22 The 33rd annual Schwan’s USA CUP, billed as the largest soccer tournament in the Western Hemisphere, will run from July 14 - 22 at National Sports Center. Special traffic controls will be in place on both 105th Avenue and Davenport Street near the National Sports Center. 3M Championship Jul 31–Aug 6 The 3M Championship also returns to the Tournament Players Club Twin Cities in Blaine this year. The 2017 tournament runs July 31 – August 6 and features several days of events leading up to three days of golf on the weekend. Public parking is available at the Anoka County-Blaine Airport. The tournament continues to be very successful in terms of both accolades and attendance. The 3M Championship won the prestigious Champions Tour Presidents’ Award as the best tournament of the 2009 season. In 2008, it was voted the No. 1 Champions Tour event by the golfers. The annual tournament has also donated more than $24 million to local charities since 1993. FreeAdmission,3MChampionship The 3M Tournament will be free to the public in 2017. This includes free admission, parking, and shuttles. Public parking is available at the Key Air entrance to the Anoka CountyBlaine Airport. Detailed information is available at 3MChampionship.com.