Victoria officials outline Highway 5 construction and major winter tree clearing; county projects on 10/11 and MDOT Highway 7 study draw local concern

Victoria — City engineer Cara Garin briefed the Victoria City Council on Feb. 1 on multiple transportation projects affecting the city, saying early work on the county‑led Highway 5 project is underway and that significant vegetation removal will begin in winter months to meet environmental timing restrictions.

Garín told council the Highway 5 contract has been awarded to CS McCrosen and that private utility relocations, early earthwork and placement of search‑charge fill have started or will begin. "There will be some traffic impacts — shoulder closures and potential lane closures — but we expect much of the early work to be outside of rush hour," Garín said. She emphasized that tree clearing along much of the corridor will be visible and significant: areas flagged for removal include the Welcome to Victoria sign area, the corridor between Highway 5 and the Lake Minnetonka Regional Trail, Maline Creek Park for a planned pedestrian underpass, and portions near Rolling Acres and Tristan Heights. The city engineer said tree removal is being scheduled in winter specifically because it is required then to protect bats.

Garín said the project team is planning an open house (project team aiming for the end of March) once the contractor's final schedule is available and that the county and local partners have established a hotline and project email for resident questions. She encouraged residents to sign up for email updates and said the city will supplement county communications with Victoria‑focused materials and changeable message signs when tree clearing dates are set.

On other county projects, Garín said County Road 11 reconstruction is funded and scheduled for 2028 and Highway 10 design work is underway for 2029 construction. The Highway 10 study will include access‑management decisions for commercial segments and a possible realignment of County Road 43; Garín announced a public open house for the 10/11 project on Feb. 12 at Westbrook church.

Garín also summarized an MDOT study of Highway 7 that recommends a two‑lane configuration with a continuous median barrier and roundabouts at major intersections to improve safety. That concept, she said, has generated "pretty significant concerns" among residents who fear many local intersections would become right‑in/right‑out only and that travel patterns would be lengthened for some neighborhoods. Garín said further public engagement and study will occur before any design is final.

Council members asked about replanting and landscaping after construction; Garín said the project includes some replanting but that additional city‑funded plantings would be evaluated after construction. She also noted the project team is coordinating across jurisdictions (county, neighboring cities and state) to provide consistent communication.

The report closed with staff noting the schedule for more detailed engagement and with no formal council action required at the workshop stage.