Editor’s Notebook: Five Oakdale Stories to Watch for in 2012

News is usually unpredictable—but not always. Here are five stories I expect to see in 2012:

• Detours on I-694: The Minnesota Department of Transportation plans a $20 million project to resurface Interstate 694 between 40th Street and Highway 61 in 2012. Construction is expedted to go from June through October, according to MnDOT's project website. Traffic will be down to one lane in each direction in the project area, according to the site. The Interstate 694 ramps at Highway 36 and Century Avenue will also be reconstructed. This will likely be an area to avoid during construction, but on the bright side, the new surface should last 25 to 30 years, according to the MnDOT website.
• New Construction at Tartan Crossing: The former Oakdale Mall site will be ready for new construction this spring. Although no formal plans have come before the city’s planning commission, city officials have said senior housing is likely to be the first thing to develop on the site.
• A Hotel at : With the city of Oakdale and Fairway Suites on track to formalize their agreement to work together at the Jan. 10 Oakdale City Council meeting, it wouldn’t be surprising to see plans come in, or even ground broken, for a new hotel in 2012.
• A Plan for Transit Along I-94: This spring, the Gateway Corridor Commission expects to have completed its study of the different possible modes of transit—and routes—along Interstate 94 from Eau Claire, WI, to Minneapolis. The study will compare express bus service, bus rapid transit, commuter rail and MnPASS lanes, with the goal of helping officials to choose the best mode and route.
• A Proposal at the Tanner’s Lake Redevelopment Site: A developer has expressed interest in putting rental housing on the Tanner’s Lake redevelopment site. Perhaps in 2012, we’ll see dirt move at that property—or at least a formal proposal to build something there.