From rural farms to village plats, and finally to consolidated metro city lands, Cottage Grove and its neighbors have seen their fair share of changes since the State of Minnesota came into being, way back on May 11, 1858. With changes though come challenges, like overburdened traffic paths which can result in a slow-moving ‘rush hour,’— chances are you’ve experienced the irony.

In part to keep local traffic moving well into the future, the Cottage Grove Council considered approval of a Southwest Arterial Planning Study at its meeting Wednesday May 5. The purpose of the study with results recommended for Council approval Wednesday, was to provide a recommended route for a future arterial roadway while also assessing the various impacts, including archeological ones. Eight historical sites lie with See STUDY Page 9