The existing water table elevation in the Hwy 371/210 intersection is within 10 feet of the ground surface. The clearance requirements for railroads are greater than highways. The lowering of the railroad would be as much as 30 feet to provide the clearance required by BNSF Railway.  

This project makes significant safety improvements for bicyclists and pedestrians. Bicyclists will be able to use the trail along Hwy 210 under the Hwy 371 bridge to travel from west to east. This trail connects to the existing trail system in the northeast corner by Kohl's. Additionally, bicyclists can use the trail under the Excelsior Rd. bridge to make that east-west connection. This trail also connects to the proposed bike/pedestrian tunnel under the ramps and the trail on the Hwy 371 bridge over Hwy 210 and the railroad, which provides the north-south connectivity.

Hwy 371 in Baxter has been a four-lane rural highway since the 1960s. The bypass constructed in the late 1990s was completed to move traffic away from the developed downtown of Brainerd and provide a more direct route for travelers to the lakes region. Hwy 371 is an important regional corridor that moves people and freight through the area and to destinations far beyond Baxter. Slowing down the corridor would increase travel times and promote diversion of traffic around the City of Baxter. 

• Based on public feedback, local access was a primary concern for many stakeholders. The buttonhook interchange is the only alternative evaluated that provided direct access to Excelsior Rd. from Hwy 371 while also allowing local access along Hwy 210. 
• Another primary advantage is that it maintains direct access to these routes while eliminating the signals on Hwy 371. 
• All the other alternatives evaluated had major impacts on direct local access from Hwy 371 or Hwy 210.  
• A summary of the alternatives and the tradeoffs was provided at Open House three: Public meeting boards

Detailed signage will help guide traffic through the area. The exit and entrance ramps will look like a traditional loop ramp for motorists on Hwy 371. Roundabouts are a common feature on roadways in Minnesota, with an estimate of over 500 across the state.  

MnDOT recently completed a corridor study for Hwy 371 from Bater to Nisswa. Woida Rd. was included in this study. No funding is available at this time for these improvements. Any future improvements for Woida Rd. will go through the same process as the Hwy 371/210 project. More information on this study can be found on the Hwy 371 from Bater to Nisswa webpage.  

The roundabouts have sufficient capacity to handle the existing and future traffic growth. A traffic model of the 2050 Friday PM peak is available to download and watch. (MP4, 42,644KB)

The roundabouts are designed to handle large trucks and RVs. Roundabouts are common in trucking corridors around the country. Hwy 210 is also a house-moving route, and the roundabouts are designed to handle mobile home moves. They can also accommodate the wind turbine blades that travel the corridor. 

The project went through a multi-step process, starting with a Value Engineering Study that identified a wide range of alternatives. Then the alternatives were narrowed down through a two-step screening process based on project needs and public feedback. The process included numerous engagement and listening activities with the public and local agencies to gather comments, including: 

1. Open House #1 – September 10, 2024 

2. City Council Work Session – December 2024 

3. Chamber of Commerce Presentations #1 & #2 (2 separate meetings)  January 2025 

4. Open House #2 – February 12, 2025 

5. Baxter City Council Update – May 2025 

6. Chamber of Commerce Sessions #3 & #4 - June 2025 

7. Open House #3 – July 2025 

8. Chamber of Commerce Session #5 – August 2025 

9. City of Baxter Work Session – October 21, 2025 

It is projected that in 25 years, the Friday congestion experienced today will happen every weekday in 2050 due to local and regional growth. Currently, the intersection is considered congested 120 days per year.