At the Hastings City Council meeting on January 20th, there was a County Rd 42 update delivered by Dakota 
County project manager Joe Morneau.
Morneau presented that the project will be a mill and overlay and not a full reconstruction of the road. Pedestrian crossings will be included. Other elements of the project are by way of speed control, narrowing the roadway and lane widths, as well as the addition of the left turn lanes at 1st Street and at the hospital, which will replace the bypass.
As the plan was presented, the three-lane design between 1st Street and the main hospital entrance includes a striped median with intermittent left lanes. And the removal of the sidewalk on the north side, creating a 44-foot to 47-foot roadway width. The change of roadway would require the removal of mature trees within the right-of-way.
The Hastings City Council voiced some concerns about the County Rd 42 plan.
To list a couple of the concerns, the removal of the sidewalk and replacing it with a trail, which would make the trail the responsibility of the city, and another concern was the removal of trees along the historic fence line at Lakeside Cemetery.
After the city council’s feedback, KDWA connected with Dakota County project manager Morneau for an update on the County Rd 42 plan.
Morneau estimated the start date for the County Rd 42 construction, and offered the next step for the County Rd 42 project.
For the full interview, listen to the broadcast soundbite.