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The proposed newly aligned intersection for Pleasant Valley Road at Highway 95 in Franconia Township is moving forward with a big financial boost from the LRIP fund.  Chisago County Engineer Joe Triplett shared a notice with the county commissioners that the county  had won the Local Road Improvement Program funds of $500,000, appropriated through the state legislature.

The realignment of the poorly situated intersection is scheduled to start by the end of this month or early June.

Also ready to go is the resurfacing for CSAH 22 in the Wyoming area.  The mill and overlay bid was awarded to Park Construction by the Board.  The road maintenance work bid also includes a section of #37 in a low area near Shafer.

Meanwhile, the state Highway 8 reconstruction project is in final stages toward groundbreaking, with right-of-way acquisition moving forward and needing about four to five months. The environmental reviews are close to complete, Triplett added. He would describe plan design now at 90 percent.

The entire safety and capacity improvements work zone— from Wyoming to Karmel Avenue in Chisago City is close to a $120 million budget,  and Triplett is working to fill the gap at about $28 million, between this total and known dedicated funding.

MNDOT has scheduled a public meeting June 9 at Lindstrom Community Center to review the eastern next phase of Highway 8 needs.

Additionally, the state transportation department has been compiling a study of the eastern remaining portion of Highway 8, from Chisago City to Taylors Falls.  Engineer Triplett mentioned to commissioners the bridge at the St Croix Falls-Taylors Falls highway convergence is slated by Wisconsin to be worked on in 2032, which is accelerated from 2035.

And, construction of the round-about at Hemingway Avenue and County Road 14 just southeast of North Branch,  is  on track for its construction, slated for 2027.

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