Along the shady stretches of Minnesota Highway 22, known locally as “Victory Highway,” 1,170 trees were planted by area residents beginning in 1948 to honor veterans from Beauford, Mankato, and Mapleton. The trees represent the veterans who served their country in World Wars I and II.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) prioritized the total reconstruction of 11 miles of Victory Drive over two construction seasons, beginning in 2017. We were selected to complete preliminary and final design of the highway and the replacement of the bridge over the Cobb River, a popular canoeing route.
The final design required the removal of approximately 600 Victory trees. We shared the community’s passion for honoring the veterans and kept this top of mind during every phase of the project. We engaged the public on re-imagining the memorial corridor, restoring memorial vegetation in a way that gained community support through well-attended public meetings.
