A Highway 371 committee that includes representatives from Nisswa, Pequot Lakes, Jenkins, Pine River and Crow Wing County is looking to apply for federal funding to move up the date to expand Highway 371 to four lanes through the four communities.
That project currently is scheduled for 2018-19, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT)'s latest project projection.
Highway 371 expansion currently is third on the list of priorities for MnDOT District 3. Projects recently were postponed or dropped because of lack of funding.
Nisswa's realignment of County Road 18 was contingent upon the Highway 371 expansion. As part of both projects, the city seeks to move the current stoplight on Highway 371 farther south.
A year ago, the Pequot Lakes City Council decided on a split vote to expand the highway east of downtown, instead of through town. The city and MnDOT have yet to sign municipal consent for that project. Municipal consent means both the city and MnDOT agree on the chosen route, and future changes couldn't be made.
The highway expansion project, which likely would start in Nisswa and move north, was slated for 2015 until it recently was moved to 2018-19 because of lack of funding from MnDOT.
Pequot Lakes Mayor Cathy Malecha said the communities learned at a Region 5 meeting last year that they should work together on a funding package rather than each community doing so on its own.
The communities hope to submit a form to U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar's office in March, seeking federal funding in 2010 for the highway expansion project.
"If we don't get to the table, somebody else will," Malecha said. "If there's funding available, it will be something that will enhance all four of the communities."
Malecha also noted that President-elect Barack Obama has said transportation and infrastructure will be a big part of his economic plan.
