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The Chisago county engineer and staff are herding a number of long range road designs, and more imminent projects along paths towards completion, like a possible Stacy interchange, right.  For the most part things are going well.  But one concern has popped up tied to the rebuild of Highway 8.  

The Congressional approval of the recent Continuing Resolution, authorizing just enough budget to keep the federal government alive until September, will reduce promised monies for Highway 8.     

The highway reconstruction and improvements plan between I-35 and Chisago City was in the hopper for 2025 appropriations.  County Engineer Joe Triplett explained the 2023 and 2024 money is secure at $3 million and $5 million respectively.  The Fiscal Year 2025 funds are on hold.

 House Resolution 1968 had the net result of eliminating congressionally directed spending earmarked for everybody’s local districts.

It is likely the momentum being enjoyed right now may continue, based on existing financial conditions, but Triplett has some concern.  There are multiple areas of budgeting being impacted by current federal cuts and Minnesota doesn’t have enough to cover all the expected losses.

Some other road work that is further along and firmer on the work schedule, include:

~ The CSAH 30 (old highway 61) segment in North Branch, adding a trail on the library side...  Construction is supposed to begin early April.  Exact dates have not been announced yet but there may be a full closure when a box culvert is being installed.

~ The county road link between Stacy and Lindstrom, CSAH 19,  is slated to have 60 percent of plans done in May.  The project includes a round-a-bout at the four way stop at Lofton Avenue.  Triplett says Chisago City and Lindstrom leaders will be asked to “re-engage” at some point.  

The process of acquiring right-of-way is started.

~ The County Board has approved an agreement to share costs for the I-35 and 19 study and layout.  This interchange at Stacy is a project long advocated for by County Commissioner Ben Montzka. He commented he is looking forward to working on the hazards and congestion issues here.   An early indication of what the options could be was a sketch the commissioners last week of a possible layout for roundabouts as ramp access on either side of the Stacy freeway bridge. (See graphic.)

~ Meanwhile the County Board earlier approved a contract with WSB,  to do preliminary engineering concepts for County Hwy 22 across I-35 in downtown Wyoming.  There are three alternatives being focused on.  

This corridor could prove rather complex depending on how the west side of Wyoming and city secondary road systems develop, Triplett remarked.

Wyoming City Administrator Robb Linwood told the Press no timeline for an interchange and alignment recommendation report is finalized as yet.  “Key concerns for the corridor include traffic flow, safety and long term infrastructure needs,” Linwood observed.

And,  the County #10 reconstruction in the Harris city area continues next-year project, but the commissioners last week okayed inking a contract with an archaeological research consultant to start a survey required to see if any burial mounds lie in the work zone.  CSAH 10 right of way acquisition is also on-going.

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