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Wayne Neubarth Victoria 952-443-1910 |
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Tom O’Connell, CPA Income Tax Preparation. 952-474-6509 |
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Bertas Funeral Home Chaska * 952-448-2137 |
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CORNERSTONE Insurance Agency David Barsness * 952-448-5028 |
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Sebenaler Chiropractic Center Chaska * 952-448-9908 |
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Christ Victorious Lutheran Church Just south of Victoria * 952-443-2993 |
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City Engineer Cara Geheren pointed out that the City of Victoria must “carry the warrant case for a 150-foot road forward for an environmental worksheet,” regardless of which option is preferred. In all scenarios, the Holiday Gas Station will disappear from its current location on Hwy 5. It’ll also take four homes. Holly identified the possibility of lighted intersections at Park Drive/Kochia Lane, 78th Street at Digger’s Polaris, Victoria Drive at the Dairy Queen, and an improved intersection at Bavaria Road/Rolling Acres Road. “MnDOT doesn’t have any funds,” said Holly. “They remind us of that often. This is a 20-year plan.” However, she added, “If it was called an Interregional Corridor, which it is, rather than a Preservation Corridor, we’d get the funding.” Reminded Councilmember Richard Tieden, “When you say 20 years, that can easily change to a couple of years.” Cara said that with all the cities that she works with in her capacity as engineer, “it’s always been no money, no money, no money. Now MnDOT’s got the money and has to decide how to disburse it.” Mayor Mary Thun added, “We’ve gotten no attention from either of our local representatives.” *** Approximately 40 to 50 Victoria residents attended the open house at Victoria City Hall on Wednesday, May 21st, where they had a chance to see various designs for the future expansion of Hwy 5 to four lanes and speak with city and county engineers, engineering consultants, as well as a representative from MnDOT. The goal is to service the communities along a 19-mile stretch of State Highway 5 that includes Victoria, Waconia, continuing west to Norwood Young America. Brian Shorten, engineering consultant with SRF, stated, “We didn’t want to start small. It will take 10 to 20 years to build this corridor. It could easily be $70 million to $80 million to do the whole thing.” SRF is working under a joint powers agreement among the cities along the Highway 5 corridor and Carver County. According to Holly Kreft, “Carver County is overseeing the agreement, but all of the cities and the county contributed to the cost of the study.” Reported Holly, “The study costs $159,500 and started in January, so it might be more than six months when completed. The City of Victoria entered into the joint powers agreement in September of 2007.” She listed the breakdown of contributions from the various entities as follows: Waconia $50,000; Victoria $50,000; Chanhassen $10,000; NYA $7,500; Carver County $2,000; Southwest Transportation Coalition $10,000. “MnDOT did not provide any funds for the project,” said Holly, “but is providing in-kind staff for the pictorial of the corridor and some scoping.” |
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Addie’s Drawing |
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Daring souls who must use their private driveways that have access directly onto Hwy 5 find little comfort using the right turn lane, as you can see, while turning left (east) is nearly impossible for them during much of the day. |
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Although there are lights at this Victoria intersection on Hwy 5 -- east of the business district -- the lineup of cars here often backs up for miles toward Chanhassen before it snails west toward Victoria and Waconia and Norwood Young America. People living in, and moving to, this precious quadrant of the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area are not receiving their due when it comes to safe and efficient transportation in the State of Minnesota. |
