Damage to township roads and customers getting lost on the way to local businesses were among the concerns discussed at the first Highway 7 construction meeting. MnDOT representative Kelly Brunkhorst has scheduled the meetings every Wednesday at 1 p.m. during the project to provide updates and give the public the opportunity to ask questions and share concerns about the project. The meetings take place at the Hollywood Ranch House at the intersection of Hwy. 7 and Carver County Rd. 33, north of New Germany. Charles Burns, who is in charge of maintenance for Hollywood Township, and Gerald Goede, who is in charge of maintenance in Camden Township both reported damage to township roads caused by trucks traffic associated with the Highway 7 project. Burns described damage to Vega Avenue, and Goede described damage to Welcome Avenue. Brunkhorst said both of these issues will be corrected.

The focus of the work in the days ahead will be the pavement removal and utility work at the Carver County Road 10 intersection, and construction of a sediment pond near the intersection of McLeod County Road 15 and Eagle Avenue.

Brunhorst cautioned that culvert work will begin next Monday, and this will result in some holes in the pavement at various points in the construction zone.

Brunkhorst also said that while local traffic is permitted, law enforcement officials will be ticketing drivers who attempt to use Hwy. 7 as a through-route. Local traffic refers to drivers traveling to or from a business or residence along Highway 7. Brunkhorst said drivers should access Highway 7 at the closest possible point to their destination.