Local leaders celebrate the completion of County Road 83
New four-lane divided roadway to improve traffic flow and safety
Prior Lake, Minn. – Officials recently gathered to cut the ribbon on the newly completed County Road 83 in Prior Lake, marking the conclusion of the road’s reconstruction. The $30 million project began in August 2016 and was primarily funded by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC), with $950,000 in funding from Scott County. The SMSC partnered with Scott County and the City of Prior Lake on the design of the project. The Army Corps of Engineers and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources were also key to the project’s success.
“A project of this size takes the expertise and dedication of so many people,” stated SMSC Chairman Charles R. Vig. “Thanks to their hard work over the past year and everyone’s patience during construction, the thousands of people who use this road each day will have a better experience.”
To improve the traffic flow and area safety, County Road 83 was upgraded from a two-lane roadway to a four-lane divided roadway between county roads 42 and 82. Two exit ramps onto Mystic Lake Boulevard and Sioux Trail were also created to ease congestion near Mystic Lake Casino Hotel and Little Six Casino. The project was completed from start to finish in 28 months. Projects of this complexity typically take five to six years.
“This new roadway will better serve the needs of our Scott County residents and visitors,” said Scott County Board Chairman Michael Beard. “We appreciate the SMSC’s leadership on this project that benefits both of our communities.”
In addition to County Road 83, the SMSC has contributed more than $5 million in the last five years toward local road construction and upgrades in Scott County. These projects include an additional lane on Highway 169 in Shakopee; the creation of a new road, Tintaocanku, between McKenna Road and County State Aid Highway 21 in Prior Lake; and safety improvements to the County Road 17 and 42 intersection.
About the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community
The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community is a federally recognized, sovereign Native American tribe located southwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul. Following a Dakota tradition of generosity, the SMSC is one of the top philanthropists in Minnesota and is the largest contributor to Native American tribes and causes across the country. It is a strong community partner and a leader in protecting and restoring natural resources. The SMSC’s government, Gaming Enterprise, and various other enterprises are collectively the largest employer in Scott County.