Tree Removal to Begin on Hwy 34 Surfacing Project Along Lake Country Scenic Byway

The Minnesota Division of Transportation’s long-awaited Freeway 34 renovation venture will see 21 miles re-paved and formally kick off later this month with by far essentially the most controversial a part of the venture: tree removing efforts across the Lake Nation Scenic Byway.

Elimination efforts will outcome within the removing of roughly 50% of the bushes between Snellman and Osage to cut back shadow on the freeway and decrease highway ice. However the removing of bushes is the foundation reason for controversy for conservation organizations such because the Izaak Walton League of America and Honor the Earth.

“We argue that while you take away the face of the forest on both facet of this freeway, you virtually change and negate what is effective,” stated Willis Mattison, member of the Izaak Walton League of America Prairie Woods Chapter.

MnDOT has beforehand made efforts to tell surrounding communities of what the venture itself will entail. hosting a panel discussion last October. Nonetheless, organizations just like the Izaak Walton League have expressed how these efforts really feel extra like a lesson than an open dialog.

“It’s actually unlucky that MnDOT is as soon as once more planning public participation to easily inform individuals what to do, reasonably than contain the general public within the design of the venture in a manner that honors the neighborhood and the worth of the venture. scenic facet highway,” stated Mattison.

MnDOT acknowledged that the primary objective of eradicating bushes is to extend security alongside the facet highway and forestall visitors accidents which will happen.

“At MnDOT we work for security first…” stated Joeb Oyster, MnDOT Venture Supervisor. “We do our greatest to steadiness our finances with security and the atmosphere so we do not purchase bushes that do not have to be knocked down, so our aim is to make the highway secure for individuals to drive, so we need to maintain the bushes closest to the highway away from the highway.”

Tree removing is scheduled to start later this month, whereas resurfacing is anticipated to start later within the spring.

“The principle highway portion of building is not going to start till Could or June this spring,” Oyster stated.

MnDOT mentioned the potential impacts of the venture on visitors on Freeway 34, noting that it might be doable to carry one other open home fashion occasion within the close to future.