WILLMAR -- Minnesota Department of Transportation officials continue to plan the state Highway 23 project to bypass the city of Paynesville to begin in 2009, even though funding may not be available for the road construction until a year later.
"As it sits now, we are not going to have the funding until 2010," said Lowell Flaten, MnDOT District 8 preliminary design engineer.
The department is still seeking funding for the $50.5 million project, Flaten said. More funding may be available after state voters approved the constitutional amendment to dedicate vehicle sales tax revenue to highway and transit purposes.
An estimated $300 million per year will become available for roads and transit. The funding will be phased in over five years.
The Paynesville bypass, proposed for a route to the west and north of the city, includes a 7.8-mile project, currently estimated at $38 million for construction and $12.5 million for acquisition of right of way.
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The news is disappointing for Willmar businesses waiting for the four-lane highway to be built.
"We're disappointed, but we also understand that the cost of building is going up," said Bob Dols of Willmar, a member of a group that has promoted a four-lane connection from Willmar to St. Cloud.
Jeff Thompson, mayor of Paynesville, is not really surprised by the potential delay. He sees both some good and some bad in the situation. On one hand, the city and businesses will have to wait another year to make plans on development, wanting to align their plans with the new road. On the other hand, owners of businesses along the current route will have another year to plan what they will do when they are bypassed by the new road.
MnDOT's District 8 personnel are currently working with the department's aeronautics division on issues raised by the proximity of the preferred highway route to Paynesville's new airport.
The highway is expected to be built in the fly zone at the east end of the 3,330-foot runway, potentially impacting the city's ability to expand the airport, which was built in 2003.
MnDOT officials from both divisions are reviewing ramp locations and alternatives but have not reached any decisions, Flaten said.
He expects the airport issues to be resolved by the end of this month. Then, the plan will be given to the city of Paynesville for municipal consent, which is required before the project can move forward.
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