A steady stream of cars and trucks sped by along Highway 5 as local, state and federal officials gathered for a brief ceremony on Tuesday, April 7, at Madelyn Creek Park in Victoria. It wasn’t a perfect park day, because of a cold breeze, but everyone appeared in an upbeat mood.
The occasion? A groundbreaking ceremony marking the start of a two-year roadway and trail improvement project along the Highway 5 corridor, from Chanhassen to downtown Victoria.
Lyndon Colebrook-Robjent, Carver County Public Works division director, kicked off the festivities by welcoming the dozens of elected officials, project professionals and community members who attended the event. Among the attendees was U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar.
“Today marks the beginning of a major phase of work,” Colebrook-Robjent told the crowd. “The Highway 5 project is a critical multi-modal investment in our community. It connects residents, businesses, trail users, arboretum visitors and regional travelers. These improvements prepare our county for long-term growth with a reliable, efficient and safe transportation network.”
When completed in 2027, Highway 5 will expand to four lanes all the way through downtown Victoria. Improvements to Rolling Acres Road and Bavaria Road — to improve traffic safety and calm traffic — are already underway with detours in place.
Enhanced trail connections, five new pedestrian underpasses and one pedestrian overpass will benefit the hiking, biking and rolling public.
Colebrook-Robjent took a moment to thank all the partners supported the fast-tracked project.
“Projects like this don’t just happen by chance,” he said. “They require strong partnerships, leadership and support. Thank you to the county board for leading the way with a long-term vision to enhance our transportation system. Thank you to our federal and state legislators for providing the funding needed to accomplish this project.”
He noted that the critical $116 million project is made possible by the awarding of 11 grants and federal earmarks.
“This has been one of the most challenging projects we’ve ever done at the county,” he admitted. “We overcame major geotechnical issues, developed complex traffic staging and delivered environmental documents and engineering plans in two years … work that typically takes five years for a project this complex. All while coordinating with residents, businesses, schools, transit providers, the (University of Minnesota Landscape) Arboretum and multiple regulatory agencies. So here we are. We’re ready to build. Our construction team is ready. Our planning teams are prepared. We are very excited to officially break ground here today.”
An unexpected obstacle, according to Colebrook-Robjent, was the endangered Rusty Patch Bumblebee. A plan to restore habitat for the bees was required for construction work to begin.
Speaking to the crowd, Sen. Klobuchar said she has fond memories of the southwest metro, dating back to her childhood attending summer camp in the area. In addition, her mother loved visiting the Arboretum and enjoyed hikes and cross country ski trips.
“I was really excited when they came to us with this project,” she said. “Highway 5 is a critical transportation corridor … and whether it’s the added lanes in both directions or the improved intersections, the project will increase safety, reduce traffic and boost the local economy. It’s a game changer.”
Because Carver County is one of the fastest-growing areas in the state, Klobuchar said more families are moving in and traffic counts are climbing.
“We need to make sure that our infrastructure keeps up with this demand,” she said.
Klobuchar thanked U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer, U.S. Sen. Tina Smith and former Rep. Dean Phillips for working together to make the Highway 5 project possible.
“This project got a huge chunk of federal money — nearly 16% of the funding is federal,” she said. “It was really important to us.”
Carver County Board Chair Tom Workman acknowledged that the two-year project will challenge motorists and impact businesses, but the whole region will benefit when the work is completed.
“Whether residents are walking, biking or commuting, they’ll experience safer and more intuitive connections,” he said. “Expanding the four lanes and upgrading key intersections will help reduce bottlenecks that people experience today. Reconstruction of Rolling Acres Road and Bavaria will make the area easier to navigate. This is an investment in our community … I and the County Board are grateful to everyone who played a role in getting us here.”
Nancy Daubenberger, commissioner for the Minnesota Department of Transportation, added her thanks to all the partners who worked together to advance the Highway 5 improvement project.
“Improving this stretch of road has been a local and county priority for some time,” she said. “Carver County was able to pursue and identify funding and move this entire project ahead in a handful of years, instead of having several smaller projects take place over several years. This streamlined process will minimize traffic disruptions for commuters, residents and businesses.”
Carver County Board Member Matt Udermann (District 3) also applauded the relatively fast project schedule.
“We expanded the project to get even more done in less period of time,” he said. “We went from an estimated 22 months of closure down to six months. It’s going to be a painful six months, for sure.”
Udermann encouraged local residents to visit Victoria in the months ahead to support the local businesses during construction season.
“I hope everybody goes and visits a restaurant, starting now,” he said. “Pick a night and go once a week or once a month, because they will be suffering in the short term. But longer term, it is the right investment.”
Udermann said the project is a testament to bipartisan cooperation that is uncommon in today’s political realm.
“Today, we’re here to celebrate Highway 5,” he said. “But it’s so much more than that. It’s about hope, a can-do attitude, a bold vision, the right people, the right partners and results.”
Those in attendance walked toward a mound of sand at the edge of the park property for a ceremonial groundbreaking ceremony.
Nearby, construction crews were already working at the closed Bavaria Road intersection on the first phase of the project.
Detours Begin
The major impacts for motorists this spring and summer will occur along Highway 41 and Highway 13 (Rolling Acres Road/Bavaria). On Monday, both Bavaria Road and Highway 41 north of Highway 5 were closed to through traffic and will remain closed through mid-summer 2026.
Along Highway 41, the early-season closure extends from Highway 5 to Tanadoona Drive. Bavaria Road is closed between Highway 5 and County Road 18.
In addition, Highway 5 is now closed on the west side of downtown Victoria, at the Highway 11 intersection. Traffic is being detoured along Stieger Lake Lane as work on new roundabouts is completed. Plans call for the intersection to reopen by early July.
All the roads along the corridor will be open for the winter of 2026-27, but in the spring of next year the bulk of the Highway 5 will get underway. The road closure between Highway 11 in Victoria to Highway 41 in Chanhassen will require detours around the project.
