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The Minnesota Department of Transportation hosted an open house last week to bring citizens up to date on plans being drafted for future projects on Highway 8. 

This is in addition to the set of projects slated to begin in 2027 improving safety and capacity between Forest Lake and Karmel Avenue in Chisago City.

The state, in collaboration with impacted cities and the county, has studied the Chisago City to Taylors Falls stretch since the fall of 2024 and lots of information has been developed to lay out the “ultimate corridor vision.”   MnDOT has surveyed 500 people and held two major community meetings,  plus there were 90 who attended the session last week.  The public may still contribute suggestions or get clarity on a highway issue until July 1.  See the MnDOT website listed at the end of this article.

The first segment the MnDOT future highway study focused on, runs from where the already designed work zone stops at Karmel Avenue in Chisago City and goes to Lincoln Road (County Road 14) in Lindstrom. 

Segment Two is in  Lindstrom city limits and  segment number three is the east side of  Lindstrom and  Center City.  

Along the first segment,  the state announced a few “short term” things that can happen relatively quickly:

~ The signals will be re-timed at multiple locations for traffic flow

~ Potentially install a right in and right out only at Sportsman Drive — or if frequency of crashes continues the intersection may be closed temporarily until the full next phase of highway projects can get started.

~ The intersection at Lofton Avenue and Highway 8 would be reconfigured and Isabel and Bloom Streets would be closed to the highway.

Plus the entire stretch from Karmel to Tern Avenue just outside Taylors Falls,  is scheduled for resurfacing as of 2033. 

Under the category of “mid term” projects, the state would plan to construct trail sections from Karmel to Lofton (Old Towne Road) and a trail from 302nd Street (library) to Lindstrom Lane.

~ There is a median proposed from John Silver Lane in Chisago City (west of Brink’s) to Lincoln Road (County Road 14)

The entry area into Lindstrom from the west would be expanded and the bridge made bigger for four lanes.  There are also designs for an underpass below this bridge,  between North and South Lindstrom Lakes to connect future trails on both sides of the highway.  There will be a trail (which is listed as a short term project) built between the highway and the lake,  from the library to 302nd, the neighborhood near County Road 14.

In the future, 10 years out,  round-abouts are proposed at County Road 14, Olinda, and Irene Avenue (middle school.) 

There will also be flashing beacon crosswalks installed at a number of locations and other safety features.  

The entire set of design graphics are available on the MnDOT website and there’s room for you to submit comments.  

The website is at https://talk.dot.state.mn.us/hwy-8-chisago-taylorsfalls.

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