Opening of final segment of new Highway 212 to be celebrated July 1

June 26, 2008

ROSEVILLE, Minn.  – The opening of the final segment of the new Highway 212 between Highway 41 in Chaska and existing Highway 212 in Carver will be celebrated on Tuesday, July 1 at 12:30 p.m.

The event will be held on the new highway between the interchanges at Highway 41 and County Road 10 (Engler Boulevard) and will feature a display of antique cars and new hybrid and electric vehicles.  

Construction of the new Highway 212 began in fall 2005 and includes 11.8 miles of four-lane freeway, eight miles of bus shoulder lanes, two park and ride lots with 950 parking spaces (constructed by Southwest Metro Transit), 28 bridges, and seven interchanges (County Road 147, Dell Road, Highway 101, County Road 17, Highway  41, County  Road 10 and County Road 147). 

The first segment opened in late 2006; the second segment opened in December 2007. The final segment of mainline new 212 will open on July 14. The last interchange at County Road 147 will be open in mid-August.

The new Highway 212 (currently signed as Highway 312) will shorten the average commute by as much as 15 minutes based on travel time runs completed recently between Highway 212 and

Prairie Center Drive in Eden Prairie and Highway 212 and County Road 147 in Carver. 

The Minnesota Department of Transportation design-build project was recognized in 2007 by Roads and Bridges Magazine as the Number 1 National Roadway Project .The project has also received awards for the “Most Value Added Proposal” from the American Association of State and Highway Transportation Officials, “Exceptional Accomplishment in the Category of Utility Leadership” from the Federal Highway Administration, and “MNSHARP for Construction Certification” from the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry and OSHA. 

The opening celebration will be hosted by Zumbro River Constructors (a consortium of Fluor, Ames Construction and Kraemer and Sons), the design-build contractor for the project.  Speakers will include Lt.  Gov. Carol Molnau, Mn/DOT Commissioner Thomas Sorel, Carver County Board Chair Jim Ische, Chaska Mayor Gary Van Eyll, Southwest Corridor Transportation Coalition President Bob Lindall and Dwayne Wilson, President of the Industrial and Infrastructure Group, Fluor. 

For questions about the new 212 Project, call the project hotline at 952/368-3041 or check the Web site at www.mndot.gov and click 212 under major projects.