Klobuchar, Franken break ground on Hwy 610 project

Local politicians and national transportation officials helped break ground Thursday on another two-and-a-half mile segment of Highway 610.

The road is supposed to link 35W with Interstate 94, but the current, $48 million project stops roughly two-and-a-half miles short of I-94.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar said she'll help get the money needed for the remaining distance.

"I am committed making this a priority because you don't have a project stop two miles before the endpoint," she said.

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Sen. Al Franken was at the ground breaking ceremony today and said he can't take credit for winning the funding that got 610 this far.

"But I intend, now that I'm in the Senate, to work with everyone on this project to ensure that we fully extend 610 all the way to 94," Franken said. "We should start a chant: 'Two more miles, two more miles.'"

Roughly one-third of the total cost for the project, about $27 million, comes from national stimulus money.

Lawmakers argue that, for now, the project will create much-needed jobs.