U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer has lined up $12.2 million in federal Congressionally Directed Spending for three central Minnesota road projects, a cash infusion that local planners say is meant to cut congestion, boost freight movement, and better connect neighborhoods to nearby business hubs.
The money is pegged for Heatherwood Road in St. Cloud ($7 million), the Hwy 24 interchange in Clearwater ($3.7 million), and a reconstruction of Town Line Road near Sartell ($1.5 million). City, county, and state officials have all flagged these stretches as workhorses for commuters and trucks, and the upgrades are billed as a way to make those daily trips a lot less painful.
Where the money shows up
The three projects appear as Congressionally Directed Spending items in the House Appropriations Committee's FY2026 transportation report. According to Congress.gov, the line items total $12.2 million and are attributed to requests submitted by Rep. Emmer and members of his delegation.
Town Line Road: a narrow road built for heavier use
On Town Line Road, the plan is to rebuild 30th Avenue/75th Avenue between Stearns CSAH 4 and the southern limits of St. Stephen. Rep. Emmer’s project summary describes a full reconstruction that would widen the roadway from roughly 20 feet to 32 feet, add six-foot paved shoulders, and include right-turn and bypass lanes, along with a stronger road base rated for 10-ton axle weights. Rep. Emmer’s office puts the total project cost at about $10 million, with the $1.5 million federal share helping cover construction that is currently projected between March 1, 2026, and June 1, 2027.
Heatherwood Road: trail, bridge, and utilities for industry
The Heatherwood Road allocation targets a busy industrial corridor on St. Cloud’s north side. The project would extend a regional roadway and multi-use trail, replace an out-of-service bridge, and bring water and sewer lines to properties that have not had those utilities available. The $7 million federal line item was among the Congressionally Directed Spending requests championed by Minnesota’s delegation and featured in a Senate summary of local priorities. According to Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s office, supporters argue that opening up utilities and multi-modal access in the Heatherwood industrial area is key for existing businesses and future growth.
Hwy 24 at I-94: a new bridge and roundabouts
On Hwy 24 in Clearwater, plans call for a new bridge over I-94, roundabouts at the interstate ramps, and rebuilt approaches and nearby intersections. The schedule on MnDOT's project page points to construction starting in mid-summer 2026 and running through fall 2027. The agency lists an estimated construction cost of about $24 million, while the House committee report assigns $3.7 million in federal funding toward that total.
Traffic numbers help explain why the interchange made the cut. Local coverage has pointed out that Hwy 24 carries around 16,200 vehicles per day, including roughly 1,650 freight trucks, a load that puts steady pressure on the current layout. Those counts were reported by KNSI.
Next steps and local context
Before any dirt gets turned, each project still has to clear design work, engineering review, and local permitting. MnDOT will take the lead where state highways are involved, partnering with counties and cities to move designs through to construction bidding once the federal money is formally obligated.
Heatherwood Road and related improvements have already been showing up in local planning documents. St. Cloud’s five-year road program specifically lists the corridor as a near-term priority for investment, according to St. Cloud Live, making the new federal dollars a timely boost rather than a brand-new idea.
