150th Street W. (County Road 42) Road Improvements, Redwood Drive to Pennock Avenue

​​​​​Coun​​​ty Project 42-163

​​​​​​Dakota County and the City of Apple Valley are designing improvements to County Road 42 and the city's utilities. The project is from Redwood Drive to Pennock Avenue. The project's design is being finalized in 2026. It's based on discussions with the community since we completed the County Highway 42 Management Plan.

Goals and ​​final design plan

The project goals are to best serve pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and nearby residents and businesses. The design plans include new traffic signals, improved multi-use trails, better turn lanes and new intersection controls. The planned changes will improve safety and help keep County Road 42 at four through lanes. The project will also replace obsolete underground infrastructure including stormwater inlets and pipes and the city’s water supply and sanitary sewer lines.

Project design features

 From west to east, the project design will include:

• Redwood Drive – Little or no change anticipated (maintain and monitor the intersection as side-stop controlled with full access)
• Elm Drive and Redwood Park – Remove the traffic signal at Elm Drive and reconstruct the median to reduce left turns, concurrent with a new structure under County Road​ 42 for pedestrians and bicyclists to cross to each side of Redwood Park
• Garden View Drive – Replace the traffic signals, improve turn lanes and safety with short center medians, and improve the pedestrian crossings
• Trails and frontage roads – Improve the continuity of multi-use trails, including new sidewalks at all frontage road properties and shared bicycle use on the frontage roads​
• Frontage Road on south side from Garden View Drive to 147th Street – Build a new retaining wall from Kent Lane to 147th Street, keeping the Kent Lane opening to County Road 42 and improving the 147th Street opening.​
• Hayes Road – Replace the traffic signals, improve turn lanes, improve pedestrian crossings, and build pedestrian ramp improvements into the retaining wall
• 147th Street to Pennock Avenue – Reconstruct the median at 147th Street to reduce left turns and improve multi-use trails and frontage road east to Pennock Avenue
  
• City utility work and new lighting– Replace water and sewer utility lines at all nearby properties ​with roadway and sidewalk construction. Install more lighting in the median.

Opportunity to comment on project changes in city parks

In accordance with federal regulation 23 CFR 774.5, Dakota County is seeking comments on a preliminary “de minimis” finding.  This finding says Redwood Park and Apple Grove Park would not be adversely impacted by the proposed project. The proposed project requires easements from both parks to construct transportation and stormwater improvements.

At Redwood Park, the project includes:

• Construction of a new pedestrian and bicycle crossing under County Road 42
• Replacement of existing walkways, with some minor route changes
• New Addition of stormwater infiltration areas integrated with park trails, native plants and naturalized landscaping.

At Apple Grove Park, the project includes expansion of the existing pond and associated improvements.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) made a preliminary determination that the projects are de minimis actions in accordance with 23 CFR 774.5, also known as “Section 4(f).” It protects parks and other public resources from transportation project impacts. The de minimis finding will be finalized or changed based on public review and comment. Any comments must be submitted on or before Aug. 7, 2026. It and will become part of the official project record. Use the feedback button to submit a comment or contact the project manager to learn more.