MAPLE PLAIN, MN - Highway 12 in Maple Plain will soon obtain the overhaul it’s long overdue for in the opinion of many commuters.
According to information released from the City of Maple Plain Friday afternoon, Highway 12 through the city will receive a resurface after the Fourth of July this year.
Project letting is set for April or May, with construction set to begin after July 4. The project is expected to last six to eight weeks.
Construction will take place at night and begin after the afternoon/evening rush hour. Overnight, short-term closures will be required for resurfacing between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., with flaggers directing traffic around the work and closures.
Some work regarding widening of Highway 12 west of Hennepin County 83 and other road improvements may take place during the day, according to the city.
The project also entails widening of Highway 12 west of Hennepin County Road 83, up to where road work ended on railroad bridge project, to incorporate turn lanes for businesses, including a left turn lane for Herc-U-Lift.
The improvements are also expected to address left turning movements at Pioneer Avenue for the Maple Plain Fire Department.
Also taking place will be the construction of channelization at Oak Street, with a surmountable channel island for Waconia Farm Supply/Ace Hardware delivery trucks.
The Highway 12/Oak Street intersection would become three-quarter access, allowing right-in/right-out, left-in off of Highway 12, but not allow left turns from Oak onto the highway.
A continuation of the median from Boundary Avenue to Oak Street is also in the plans, with a median being proposed to extend a short distance beyond Oak Street, past the drive thru exit for Blackwater Coffee. Blackwater drive-thru traffic would only be able to turn right, according to the City of Maple Plain.
The road will not be closed during the work, although there could be some lane restrictions.
An open house is planned for February at the Discovery Center, located at 5050 Independence Street. The specific date and time will be made available as soon as it is announced.
The estimated project cost is $1.4 million, with construction expected to be complete this fall. The project is part of MnDOT’s “Better Roads” project.

DELANO, MN - Organizers are seeking items for a silent auction planned to take place Friday, Jan. 20 at 6 p.m. at the American Legion in Delano. All products, services, and works of art are welcome as donations.
There will also be raffle drawings the day of the event.
All proceeds of the event will go to the Helping Hands Food Shelf in Delano.
Raffle tickets are $1 and available at the following businesses: Star West Chevrolet, Linnie’s Ice Cream, Dave’s Town Club, Delano Lanes, Delano American Legion, Pizza Ranch, McDonald’s Photography, Delano Rental, A-1 Rental in Navarre, and True Value Hardware in Mound.
Prizes in the raffle include: first prize – $500 labor on a drywall project of winner’s choice; second prize – $500 labor for a painting project of winner’s choice; third prize – $20 cash; fourth prize – $20 cash.
Raffle winners need not be present to win, and prizes may be gifted to a friend or relative.
For more information, call Mark at AA Orvik Drywall at (612) 532-0926.