By Mollee Francisco

They’ve been neighbors for over 150 years. They’ve weathered floods, tornadoes and an explosion of development together.

But now, a proposed highway threatens to divide the cities of Chaska and Carver.

Of the six options for a new Highway 41 Minnesota River crossing connecting future Highway 212 and Highway 169, five pass through Chaska. Only one, W-2, passes through Carver. And coincidentally, that option is the one the Chaska City Council has indicated their preference for – a decision that has upset Carver’s Mayor Jim Weygand.

“We were disappointed Chaska took that vote,” he said. “We do not like the idea of the W-2 route coming through town.”

As proposed, W-2 would connect at new Highway 212 and County Road 147, passing over the Minnesota River to the east of downtown Carver and skirting the southern edge Gifford Lake before meeting up with Highway 169.

According to Diane Langenbach, Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) project engineer, the State Historic Preservation Office has already indicated that the W-2 route would have a negative affect on the entrance to Carver.

The route would also have to cross over U.S. Fish and Wildlife lands in the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge.

Despite those factors, the Chaska Council chose the route because it had the highest cost-to-benefit ratio, the least impact on existing housing and businesses and the least impact on city parks and trails.

“We looked at it pretty objectively,” said Chaska Mayor Gary Van Eyll. “We’re not trying to shove all of our problems on Carver.”

At its July 16 meeting, the council opted to strengthen their position in favor of W-2, pushing E-2 – its second choice – into the background.

It was a decision applauded by Move 41 West, a group of Chaska residents in the neighborhoods east of Audubon Road, near the proposed easterly routes. The group has mobilized hundreds of residents to oppose the eastern routes due to their impacts on existing housing and Seminary Fen.

Near consensus

According to Van Eyll, a coalition of the affected communities and counties (Chaska, Carver, Shakopee, Chanhassen, Scott County and Carver County) has almost come to a consensus on W-2 as a preferred route.

“The consensus was all but one community said let’s do W-2,” said Van Eyll. Carver was the sole dissenter.

The coalition hopes that by coming to a decision on one preferred route, MnDOT will be more likely to agree. Though the river crossing is currently not in MnDOT’s 20-year plans, the earlier a route is chosen, the sooner funding for the project can be pursued and right-of-way reserved.

But the city of Carver isn’t one to roll over that easily.

“Carver is not going in (to the coalition meetings) in cooperative mode,” said Weygand. “Chaska wants to play the 800-pound gorilla and we’re going to react accordingly.”

Weygand said that the Carver City Council has not chosen any preferred route.

“We can see issues with the easterly routes,” said Weygand. “And we’re in favor of protecting (Seminary Fen), but it seems like that’s just an excuse not to put a river crossing there.”

Weygand said that he could see some version of the central routes, C-2 or C-2A, working.

“I can see Chaska does not want this going through its downtown area,” he said. “Unfortunately there is no route that will make everyone happy.”

Weygand acknowledged that a new river crossing would be an advantage for the region, but noted that there was a definite advantage to Chaska.

“The place that benefits most is Chaska, because of the traffic,” he said.

But Van Eyll disagreed.

“At ultimate build-out (Highway) 41 will be handling more traffic than now,” he said. “The difference is that there will be less truck traffic.”

“I really believe there are some positives for Carver on W-2,” said Van Eyll, alluding to commercial opportunities at the junction of new Highway 212 and County Road 147. Weygand has said that he believes that particular area would be “a nightmare” as proposed.

Bad blood

The chances of all the affected communities agreeing on one route seems to be dwindling as the end of the public comment period (Aug. 10) draws closer.

At the July 18 coalition meeting, Carver officials didn’t concede that the no-build option should be off the table, Van Eyll said. According to MnDOT figures, without a new river crossing, existing Highway 41 is expected to serve more than 36,000 vehicles a day, nearly double what it serves today.

So will there be bad blood between Chaska and Carver when all is said and done?

“If every other community decides to go with W-2, then it’s not only Chaska,” said Van Eyll. “Will there be hard feelings? I’m sure there will be hard feelings.”

“I certainly would think so,” agreed Weygand.

Neither city is throwing out the possibility of tweaking the western route, however. That would depend on MnDOT’s willingness to be flexible. For now, choosing among the six routes and the no-build option is their focus.

“Our option is to comment on what we have in front of us,” said Van Eyll.

“First we have to look at what would be the absolute best for Chaska,” he continued. “Then we have to look at what would be best for the region.”

According to Van Eyll, the coalition has plans to meet again in August.

*For more information on the proposed crossing, go to MnDOT's project page.

*To submit your comments on the proposed routes, contact Diane Langenbach at (651) 234-7721 or via e-mail at diane.langenbach@dot.state.mn.us.

TELL US: Which route would you choose?