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About 70 citizens signed the registration sheet and many more visited the open house last week at Lent Town Hall, held for presenting information about the alignment of a future extension of County Road 17. The goal is to “tie-in central Chisago County” with the new interchange at 17 and I-35, said consulting engineer Bret Johnson.

Johnson, of SEH Engineering, has been contracted by the county to do preliminary tasks towards identifying a preferred alignment and do the environmental assessment of the corridor.

Johnson said there’s no acquisition of property expected for several years, but by identifying the extension corridor for #17 to intersect with County Road 14, then township land use planning can incorporate the route and property owners in the general area become aware of the route.

The easterly extension of #17 will be a two-lane, 10 ton roadway, right-of-way is estimated to require 120 feet.

Johnson added that he collected public comments during the public open house and he also gave citizens an additional week to submit their observations, etc.

There are six routes that are under consideration.

“We need to balance safety, wetland impacts, access and costs for the project in determining the best alignment,” said Johnson. He explained the routes were rated more highly if they were at least 500 feet away from existing dwellings and crossed the better soils-- avoiding unnecessary construction costs.

The #17 route will connect to #14 where #18 now intersects. (See map).

Meanwhile, state and federal transportation agencies, and Chisago County are quickly advancing towards groundbreaking on the interchange at #17 and I-35. Johnson mentioned bids will be awarded in a couple weeks. The interchange is scheduled for opening November 2006.

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