POLL: Will Dangerous Intersection Become Safer After Reconstruction?

Here's a little information on a proposed reconstruction of the Hudson Road/Highway 120 (Century Avenue) intersection:

What’s happening?

The intersection of Hudson Road and Highway 120 consistently ranks in the top 200 statewide for crash rates, according to a Minnesota Department of Transportation fact sheet. MnDOT has come up with a design it says will make the intersection safer. At the new intersection:

• Traffic would not be able to travel west on Hudson Road across Century Avenue (Highway 120).
• Traffic could no longer turn left onto Century Avenue from Hudson Road.
• Cars that want to continue heading west on Hudson Road at Highway 120, or to get onto Interstate 94, would have to turn right onto Century Avenue and then make a U-turn at Innovation Boulevard.

Construction is planned this summer.

What do supporters say?

The proposed changes to the intersection will make it safer and cut down on weaving, causing traffic to flow better, according to a MnDOT fact sheet.

“Many crashes have occurred at this intersection, with a majority of these crashes being right angle crashes involving vehicles from Hudson Road making a through movement or left turn,” according to the fact sheet.

What does the opposition say?

Businesses on Hudson Road just west of Century Avenue have said they oppose the project because customers will have a harder time getting to and from their establishments.

A manager at Precision Tune Auto Care told the Star Tribune that the changes will cost him customers.

The president and CEO of nearby St. Paul Harley-Davidson, said in in January that the reconstructed intersection will be less safe than it is now.

“This isn't a solution, but a grave problem and only one that will jeopardize the safety of hundreds of motorists that utilize this intersection daily to gain access to the freeway on motorcycles, in automobiles and in load hauling trailers,” he said in the letter.