As snow starts to melt, road construction projects are beginning to heat up. One large project that will impact Carver County residents for the next two years is on Highway 5.
According to the Public Works website, this project will expand the highway from two to four lanes west of Highway 41 in Chanhassen to downtown Victoria. Major upgrades include:
- Intersection enhancements to improve traffic flow and safety
- Widening Lake Minnewashta crossing from two to four lanes
- Reconstructing Rolling Acres Road/Bavaria Road between Interlaken and 78th Street to reduce speeds and improve safety
- Improving safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and other non-motorized users
“We’re in the utility coordination and tree clearing phase now. A more detailed construction timeline will be released soon,” says Ari Lyksett, chief communications officer for Carver County Public Services. “All project funding – a total cost of $116 million – has been fully secured.”
As the utility and tree work continues through the spring, shoulder and lane closures will be in place to allow enough space for crews to work safely. These are likely to be in place outside of weekday rush hours, with flaggers onsite to help manage traffic flow.
For 2026, the focus will be on north/south roadways – Bavaria Road, Rolling Acres Road, Highway 41 – which will be closed most of the summer. The intersection at Highways 5 and 41 will remain open with one lane each direction.
Looking ahead to 2027, Highway 5 will be closed for most of the year from downtown Victoria to east of Highway 41.
A public open house is being planned for this spring to share details with residents and businesses. Register for the Public Works e-newsletter to receive additional updates throughout the project.
