Major Progress Achieved!

Nearly five years into this project, we finally have a defined purpose and criteria for selecting a route for this highway!

We have been heard! While our local officials have not yet taken the necessary steps, the Federal Government has intervened. This new project with a renewed purpose should not be based on outdated, 30-year-old data and assumptions. After prolonged inaction from local authorities, we reached out to state and federal agencies. As a result, the federal government is now scrutinizing the project and has mandated a comprehensive restart. All alternatives will be studied and considered in the current landscape before any routes undergo further environmental review.

Following this reset, a limited number of residents had a meeting with county engineers and Commissioners Abbe and Krueger. At the meeting, County Engineer Mr. Ilkka stated that no new road has ever been built next to residential areas in Steele County's history, and current studies do not consider the impact on residents or address safety concerns. Commissioners Abbe and Krueger have committed to prioritizing residents' safety when selecting a preferred alternative for further study. They also requested an open house before the decision on the preferred alternative to gather public input.

As of May 26, 2024, a clear "Purpose and Need" and "Evaluation Criteria" have been officially defined. This is a significant milestone! This is the first step to a data driven decision! A recommended alternative with data is expected back any day now.

We have collected 115 signatures on paper, bringing us close to 500 signatures. Now is the time to push this petition further and let our elected officials know we want an ESC that prioritizes residents' safety and supports future growth!

Note: Please see the attached image for all alternatives being studied. 29th Ave is shown as Alternative 3, and 34th Ave is Alternative 5. The distance between these two alternatives at 26th St. is just 0.55 miles.