Officials from Washington County have reached an agreement with River Valley Christian Church to purchase nearly 12 acres of land in Lake Elmo for $7.35 million. This deal will facilitate the construction of a new grade-separated interchange at the intersection of Lake Elmo Avenue and Minnesota 36, aimed at enhancing road safety and reducing traffic congestion.
The property, located at the southwest intersection of Minnesota 36 and Lake Elmo Avenue, is critical to replacing the last stoplight along Minnesota 36 between Stillwater and Century Avenue. The project, which carries an estimated cost of $50 million, will include buttonhook-style ramps designed to improve traffic flow and safety. Church officials signed the purchase agreement on December 16, 2023, with the county board expected to formalize the deal in their upcoming meeting.
Negotiations between the county and church officials have been ongoing for months. Initially, Washington County’s offer of $2.3 million was rejected. However, after extensive discussions considering various factors—including the property’s value, relocation expenses for the church, and the costs associated with redesigning the interchange—officials managed to increase their offer significantly.
According to County Engineer Wayne Sandberg, redesigning the interchange without acquiring the church property would have delayed the project by at least two years. Alternative designs were projected to increase project costs by as much as $5.2 million due to additional right-of-way needs and engineering challenges. Sandberg emphasized that the agreement prevents significant financial setbacks and potential safety risks, stating, “This agreement avoids millions of dollars in redesign and years of delay, and it’s very possible we would have had another tragic crash here.”
The intersection has seen over 200 crashes in the past decade, with three fatalities reported in 2018, 2024, and May 2023. On average, 57,000 vehicles pass through this intersection daily, leading to urgent calls for improvements. The new interchange will not only enhance vehicular safety but also improve conditions for cyclists and pedestrians.
The reimagined interchange will eliminate direct turns between the roads, instead routing traffic through dedicated acceleration and deceleration lanes along Minnesota 36. This design is expected to significantly improve safety in the area.
County Commissioner Bethany Cox, who represents the local region, expressed optimism regarding the outcome, stating, “This is a positive outcome for everyone involved. By working together, we’ve created a solution that allows our church partners to continue their mission in a new location while addressing a longstanding safety concern along Highway 36.”
Construction on the new interchange is set to begin in the summer of 2026, with project completion anticipated by the end of 2027. Officials from River Valley Christian Church, a nondenominational congregation founded in 1995, did not provide immediate comments regarding the relocation.
With nearly 10,000 attendees across its 11 U.S. campuses and two international locations, River Valley is poised for continued growth. The new arrangements will allow the church to maintain its community presence while contributing to improved safety on the region’s roads.
