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The road construction season has entered its peak, although this year it’s been progressing in fits and starts with the amount of rainfall we have experienced lately.  Project updates from the county engineering staff include, not least of all, the multi-million Highway 8 improvements package.

It’s up to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service folks now to determine the appropriateness of what’s proposed in the officially completed Biologic Assessment.  This is the paperwork where local authorities explain to regulators what can be done to protect unique species in the midst of the Highway 8 reconstruction area. 

The assessment of populations of protected long eared bats, bees and turtles, and their habitat needs to be balanced by plans for mitigating harmful activity arising from construction.  The assessment has been submitted to the federal agency and Chisago County Engineer Joe Triplett expects to hear back sometime in August.

In the meantime, the county has engaged the Minnesota Department of Transportation in starting to acquire highway project right-of-way.

Triplett added that, “We continue to work on design activities we can and work with the cities on refining the proposed improvements.”

The highway 8 project isn’t the only thing the county has on deck this summer.  

CSAH 30 design between Stacy and North Branch is 90 percent done.  Triplett reports this one is “progressing nicely.”

The replacement of the bridge over a ravine under County Road 16, north of Taylors Falls, got a delayed start due to moving water...but work should now be underway. 

Closure of the county road to through-traffic is planned to last no more than 10 days, but is subject to weather.  “We have to see what the water (in the ravine creek) does to impact the progress,” Triplett observed.

This is one of the most aged spans in Chisago County and was at the top of the to-do list.

Reconstruction Phase Two of CSAH 10 (out of Harris) is still on the calendar for 2026, and the right of way acquisition is on-going.  

Phase One; grading and widening and paving the first couple of miles.  should be done by July.

In another engineering project of sorts, but not under the roadwork category; the Chisago Lakes Lake Improvement District weirs system is being evaluated for repairs.  

Those on the LID Board needed more information on the feasibility of repair versus replacement.  Collins Engineering will work in a phased approach— providing permitting research, site survey and preliminary design for bids.

The weirs being evaluated are alongside Lofton Avenue, south of Chisago City,  and at Lake Ellen.

County Board Chair Marlys Dunne, a liaison to the LID Board, commented that keeping this analysis on track but one step at a time, will align the weir projects with known grant funding deadlines and the LID will be ready to go.

In other project discussion, the bid for a new fencing and gate system at the sheriff’s district office in Harris was awarded to Midwest Fence and Barnum Companies with Sogard doing the power. Low bid total was $60, 249.

A request to carve out three lots in Chisago Lake Township North for Kenneth and Kimberly Rice was approved. The site is at Lofton and 320th Street.

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