Highway 5 Construction
- Carver County’s Highway 5 Improvement Project will expand Highway 5 from two to four lanes west of Highway 41 to downtown Victoria to support daily traffic, safety and future growth in our community.
- While there will be construction activity in the area, access to the Arboretum will remain open throughout the entire project.
- Because Carver County is leading this project, we recommend you use the Carver County website for more information and timelines.
We Are Open: How to Get to the Arboretum
Beginning Monday, April 6, 2026, Highway 41 between Highway 5 and Tanadoona Drive and Bavaria Road between Highway 5 and County Road 18 (Lyman Boulevard) will close through mid-summer.
Access to the Arboretum’s main entrance will remain open throughout the entire project. Visitors should access the Arboretum entrance via the blue pathways outlined below. Local GPS systems should also be updated to reflect the closures so visitors can use their devices for accurate access information.
Future Road Construction
This summer (2026), work is being done on Highway 41 and Bavaria Road/Rolling Acres Road. The location of the road closures on these roads will change mid-summer. Next summer (2027), closures happen on Highway 5 (though our main entrance will remain open). The Arboretum has no control over these closures, as they were planned by the Carver County teams leading this project. For more information, visit the Carver County project website
Additional FAQs
Why is road work being done near the Arboretum right now?
Carver County’s Highway 5 Improvement Project is underway. The goal is to expand Highway 5 from two to four lanes west of Highway 41 to downtown Victoria to support daily traffic, safety and future growth in our community. The community has grown substantially since the road was expanded – meaning we need more roadway space to support vehicle traffic.
Is the Arboretum open? Will it stay open throughout these road projects?
Yes, the Arboretum is open and will remain open! Access to the Arboretum through our main entrance will remain open throughout the entire project. Please continue to join us for a respite in nature as construction is underway in our community. Road construction is not visible, audible or otherwise noticeable from most places within the Arboretum.
Will these projects create traffic impacts near the Arboretum?
Access to the Arboretum’s main entrance will remain open throughout the entire project. Construction crews will be working near the Arboretum. Outside of the published road closures, there may be intermittent lane closures on Highway 5 and this work will cause some minor delays at times. Crews are working to avoid traffic-impacting work during the morning/evening commutes when possible and to keep impacts to a minimum. Work may cause small delays in traffic as the crews do required work.
What projects is the Arboretum doing on its property right now?
The Arboretum is constructing a new entrance at Minnewashta Parkway with a four-way traffic light in response to this Highway 5 project. Our entrance is expected to open in 2027, along with the new Betty’s Apple House (now under construction near the Farm at the Arb).