At the intersection of two interstates and with two major railroad lines coming through town, Albert Lea has a unique opportunity for further freight development, according to a Minnesota Department of Transportation official on Thursday.

Dave Christianson, senior planner for MnDOT’s freight and commercial divisions, said he has been in discussions with Albert Lea Economic Development Agency Director Dan Dorman about the possibility of an intermodal train yard. The proposed yard would be northwest of the Interstate 35 and Interstate 90 interchange along the United Pacific’s main line.

The yard, which would need to be between 1 1/2 and two miles long, could easily allow trucks to transfer their containers to a train and vice versa, Christianson said.

The discussion came during a meeting set up by MnDOT to receive input about the area’s freight systems. About 15 people attended.

Christianson said MnDOT is conducting a study about the state’s freight systems and is looking at what would be the best projects to pursue. Freight systems include highways, rail, waterways and air.

Christianson said the intermodal project would be at least $5 to $7 million and noted he has been in contact with the United Pacific’s intermodal manager about the project.

“All the freight that’s moving is growing,” he said.

Dorman and others asked what Albert Lea and Freeborn County would need to do to help make the project a reality.

Christianson said as discussions are in the preliminary stages, he noted there needs to be further market research completed to see if the yard is needed. He asked those in attendance to look at the businesses in Albert Lea and those within a day’s truck drive to see if there are enough companies that could utilize the yard.

In the meantime, MnDOT will complete the freight study and he will continue talks with the United Pacific, he said.

The Union Pacific Spine Line runs north and south through town and the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern line owned by Canadian Pacific runs east and west.

The closest intermodal yards are in Des Moines, Iowa, northern Illinois, Omaha, Neb., and in the Twin Cities.

Christianson said it is helpful that Albert Lea already has a high railroad presence, available land and active switching crews already in place.

The study is expected to be completed by the end of June.