The total project cost for the Rice County Road 76 Reconstruction project is $2,905,000. TED funds from MnDOT and DEED contributed $1,452,500. Met-Con Companies are contributing $100,000 to this project, and the remainder will be provided by Rice County.
Project Description
This project involves complete reconstruction of 2.1 miles of County Rd. 76/Acorn Trial to improve access to the existing City of Faribault Northern Industrial Park and to provide better access to developable properties north of the current city limits along the I-35 corridor. The project involves upgrading the entire roadway section including widening driving lanes, adding wider and paved shoulders, and incorporating a 10-ton pavement design. This newly designed road will accommodate year round freight movements, provide safety and mobility improvements, and offer further economic growth by creating improved access in and out of the industrial park.
Transportation Impacts
The reconstruction of this segment of County Rd. 76 will foster immediate and long term development opportunities along this entire corridor. The pavement will be designed for a 10-ton axle load to accommodate year round freight movements without spring load restrictions. New turn lanes will be constructed at appropriate intersections and access points to accommodate turning movements.
Economic Development Impacts
The area where this project is being constructed is in a high growth corridor. The improvement will support planned business expansion, including SAGE Electrochromics, a manufacturer of specialized window glass. The project will support business development at the city’s northern most industrial park, and it will open up more than 200 acres for available development. Since 2005, several companies have moved into this area, such as Aldi’s Incorporated, Met-Con Companies, and Malt-O-Meal.
