Workers are constructing the roundabout at County Road 10 and Highway 7 at a feverish pace. Here, one views the roundabout site from the south on CR 10. STAFF PHOTO BY TODD MOEN

If the schedule stays on course, local drivers could be using Highway 7 between St. Boni and County Road 10 as soon as July 8. This was one of several tidbits shared by Kelly Brunkhorst, a project engineer with MnDOT, regarding the Highway 7 project that started April 21 and is scheduled to be finished on Nov. 15.

The project includes the resurfacing of Highway 7 from St. Boni to Silver Lake, the installation of passing lanes and the construction of two roundabouts at CR 10 and Highway 25.

Brunkhorst said the project is proceeding well and the roundabout at CR 10 is taking shape.

“They’re grading the County Road 10 roundabout right now. They’ve taken out all of the material that needs to be removed and they’re backfilling with sand (this week),” she said. “They are putting gravel on top of the sand and installing the curb and gutter the following week. We’re looking to pave at the end of June.”

As long as the weather cooperates, the highway will open between St. Boni and CR 10 by July 8.

At that point, drivers who have been crossing Highway 7 on Highway 25 will have to begin crossing at CR 10 as work begins on the roundabout at Highway 25. In addition to the roundabout, this portion of the project includes the resurfacing of Highway 7 and the addition of a passing lane between Highway 25 and CR 10.

If the weather continues to cooperate, this portion of the project is scheduled to be complete by Sept. 8. At that point, drivers would be able to drive on Highway 7 from Highway 25 east to St. Boni.

The project will continue west on Highway 7, with resurfacing, the addition of passing lanes near CR 21 in Carver County and between CR 15 and Eagle Avenue in McLeod County, and shoulder work on to the project’s completion point in Silver Lake.

Brunkhorst was optimistic that the project would stay on track this summer.

“We’ve had a couple of utility delays and we started a week later than we wanted to thanks to a big snowstorm on April 12, but otherwise things have been moving forward well,” she said.

When the project first began, there were a few problems with drivers not knowing the proper detour routes and trying to sneak onto Highway 7 but most of those issues have gone away. However, Brunkhorst said that some drivers are neglecting to come to a stop when they cross Highway 7. With all of the construction and local traffic still present on those roads, not stopping at the intersections can make for a dangerous situation.

“We’ve asked Carver County and McLeod County (sheriff’s departments) to help monitor this,” she noted. “(Other than that), I think we’re quite on track with the project.”