St. Paul, MN – On Tuesday, Senator Julia Coleman (R-Chanhassen) presented a series of much-needed highway funding bills focused on Carver County. The package of legislation includes, fully funding the Highway 212 project between Norwood Young America and Cologne, and money to support improvements to County Road 18 in Victoria, Chaska and Chanhassen.

“These vital projects need to get done,” said Coleman. “Fully funding Highway 212 & County Road 18 will reduce congestion, encourage economic development, and improve public safety. Investing in our transportation infrastructure is critical, and I will be a tireless champion for much-needed Carver County road projects until every single one of them gets built.”

The Highway 212 road project would expand five miles of Highway 212 from a two-lane undivided rural highway to a four-lane divided expressway from Norwood Young America to Cologne. The Highway 212 corridor is one of the most important economic and freight highway corridors in the state. The highway is a critical connection for industrial and agricultural traffic. Tragically, there have been four reported traffic fatalities and three severe crashes that have resulted in life-threatening injuries in the five-mile project area since 2009.

“By completing this project, we can save lives,” said Coleman. “212 served the needs of our communities at one point, but with the rate at which Carver County is booming, it is no longer safe, with semis and traffic flying through small towns and narrow roadways. This lane expansion is critical not only to manage the massive growth Carver County is seeing, but to protect the people I serve.”

County Road 18 in Eastern Carver County is currently a gravel road that serves as the northern border of the City of Chaska and the southern border of the University of Minnesota’s Landscape Arboretum. Despite being a gravel road, County Road 18 is heavily trafficked between Victoria and Chanhassen. This creates a serious safety hazard and has resulted in several accidents.

“This gravel road is serving as a major transportation corridor between Victoria and Chanhassen,” said Senator Coleman. “Carver County is the fastest-growing county in the state and completing this project would be a huge step in helping us manage our rapid growth.”

Senator Coleman’s two bills related to Highway 212 funding (SF 528) (SF 1368) and one bill for County Road 18 (SF 1359)were heard in the Senate Transportation Committee on Tuesday.