State, county, and city elected officials, without exception, viewed MnDOT’s recent announcement of how it planned to spend $850,000,000 as a big success for the southwest metro area, especially Eden Prairie.
A good story in yesterday’s Star Tribune, however, puts a different perspective ont he coming highway projects. This story is about the future improvement and upgrade to Highway 212.
This is an aerial view of the current ending of highway 312, the temporary name for what will ultimately be renamed hgihway 212 when it opens on its new route:
This is a good photo because it shows the current termination of 312. It looks stark.. It looks unfinished. The future improvement project will begin at this point and continue west into Carver County.
Eden Prairie resident Greg Olson is quoted in the news story.
I’ve talked with Mr. Olson about this project. In my conversation with him, I believe he realizes the project is going to happen, but he just wants to make sure that its impact is minimized on his neighborhood. That’s what any neighborhood leader would do. My staff and I are going to meet with Mr. Olson and hear his ideas. The City has some “pull” with MnDOT officials. It’s limited so we’ll have to use it carefully and strategically. If we complain about everything, we’ll get nothing. That sort of thing.
First Day of School
On another, more happier note, yesterday was the first day of school for most public school kids in Minnesota. Here’s a shot of the happy Neal brothers (Ethan on the left, Turner on the right) as they depart from home on their first day of school.
I don’t know how was more excited, them or their parents.
Oh yes I do: their parents!
