By Brenda Erdahl
Wright County commissioners know congestion along Highway 25 in and around Monticello is a growing problem which is why they signed a letter at their May 21 meeting supporting Sherburne County’s pursuit of Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement (CRISI) Program funding.
Wright County Commissioner Darek Vetsch called the project one of the biggest they can do in the short term to move traffic on Highway 25 which has been known to back up close to a mile in high traffic periods and more on holidays.
If awarded, the funding would move forward a need to improve the intersection of US Highway 10 and Sherburne CSAH 11 that will have positive impacts to the safety of the public in the region, Wright County Highway Engineer Chad Hausmann said.
Highway 10 through Becker Township is a key freight and passenger transportation corridor in the region and delays at this crossing have an impact that reaches into Wright County. The at-grade rail crossing at Highway 10 and County Road 11 is an area of concern for safety and mobility, Hausmann said. Sherburne County would use the funding to complete planning, environmental review, concept development and preliminary design for a grade separated rail crossing, which will improve safety and mobility at the crossing and promote better traffic flow throughout the entire region.
According to the letter commissioners signed, the frequency of trains through the area is high and they can block County Road 11 for up to three hours per day creating a major traffic safety concern.
Commissioners also signed a letter of support for Sherburne County’s pursuit of a Community Energy Transition Grant that, if awarded, will help fund an Environmental Impact Study (EIS) of State Highway 25 in the Monticello area reducing the local funding needed from both Sherburne and Wright Counties.
According to Hausmann, Sherburne County’s application for funding is through the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) – Community Energy Transition grant. The planned decommissioning of Sherco’s three independent units (in years 2023, 2026 and 2039) will have immediate impacts to the region and long-term negative effects. The purpose of the grant is to help offset the loss and support expansion of existing businesses and attract new ones. The expectation is that an improved transportation network will help.