(photo: emmer.house.gov)
Wright County recently hosted 6th District Congressman Tom Emmer who also welcomed U-S House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Sam Graves (Missouri’s 6th District), and Minnesota 8th District Congressman Pete Stauber for a roundtable discussion and a tour of the I-94 Gap project in Monticello.
Wright County was represented at the event by Commissioners Darek Vetsch and Jeanne Holland, County Administrator Greg Kryzer, Assistant Administrator Marc Mattice and Highway Engineer Chad Hausmann. Minnesota Senators Eric Lucero and Michael Holmstrom were also in attendance.
Congressman Emmer said the I-94 Gap project is a good example of work that can do considerable good for growing areas like Wright County that are trying to keep up with the expansive stress on the aging infrastructure in many areas. Emmer said the completion of the widening of I-94 from Albertville to Clearwater served a symbol of how federal transportation dollars can increase safety and address need.
The timing of the visit couldn’t come at a more critical time. The current Surface Transportation Reauthorization (STR) is set to expire September 30th. The STR is set over a five-year period to give local jurisdictions long-term certainty that planning can begin for a project that may be three or four years out.
County Administrator Kryzer said he was appreciative of the opportunity to showcase Wright County at a time when every county in the country is hoping to get the chance to do the same.
