By Karen Bedeau, District 2 public affairs coordinator

Mn/DOT closed a section of U.S. Hwy 2 near its junction with Hwy 9 east of Crookston on Sept. 15 due to a sliding of the Red Lake River embankment that runs parallel to the highway.

Soil movement dropped portions of the roadway two to four feet in several spots, leaving deep cracks and broken pavement. In an area adjacent to a curve in the Red Lake River, a section of westbound lanes and shoulders of the highway collapsed 10 feet.

Crews built emergency crossover lanes last week to allow traffic through the area.

The slide is located just west of a previous slide that occurred close to 30 years ago, said Jim Curran, District 2 assistant district engineer for Operations.

Curran said a combination of factors, including recent rainfall, low autumn river levels and progressive erosion at the bend of the adjacent Red River appear to have promoted gradual movements which, over time, weakened the embankment and have now resulted in a large circular landslide.

Mn/DOT noticed problems with settlement as early as last fall and had installed sensors in the area to record data about soil movement. Crews now have installed a set of additional sensors to monitor the area for further movement.

Curran said investigation into the cause of the road failure and a permanent solution continue.  

“One thing is certain: this portion of Hwy 2 is not going to have a quick fix this year,” he said.  

By Craig Wilkins

Jamie Hoff had just enough snowplowing experience to know some additional training would be helpful.

Hoff, a newly appointed transportation associate at Hutchinson, had one turn at plowing during a 45-day temporary job assignment last winter.

Given that, Hoff gamely stepped inside a trailer to give the new snowplow driving simulator a try at this year’s Fall Maintenance Expo held on Oct. 1-2 in St. Cloud.

During her plow run, Hoff experienced a blow-out, an unplanned encounter with a section of guard rail and a skid.

It was a valuable learning experience for Hoff and hundreds of others who took a turn at the wheel in the simulator.

“The blow-out felt and sounded very real,” Hoff said. “This will help me prepare for the real thing in the future.”

Mn/DOT’s new tow plow also drew a steady stream of curious expo participants.

Visitors peppered Ryan Sodd with questions about the plow’s 26-foot-long blade, how the plow functions and what it’s like to operate.

Sodd serves as a transportation generalist at the Metro District’s Maple Grove truck station.

He answered their queries with quiet assurance gained from his experience operating the plow last winter during its debut on Twin Cities metro area freeways.

A new device that mixes water and salt into an easily spread slurry that sticks well to road surfaces was another innovation displayed at the event.

Equipment such as lifts, vacuum-operated sweepers and emergency response vehicles covered the five-acre display area.

Tom Tufenk, Maintenance, who was an event organizer, said more than 1,600 people attended one or both days of the event this year—the highest attendance yet for the expo.

Participants represented township, city, county, state and tribal units of government.

Davina Bettis, an accounting technician at Central Shop, was impressed with the complexity, size and capabilities of snow removal equipment displayed at the expo.

Although her office is next to the snow plow assembly area, Bettis said, “It really helps to see the other kinds of equipment that we’re paying for.”

Other learning took place in workshops on issues such as advances in weather forecasting technologies and the most effective use of public works resources in response to floods, tornadoes and other disasters.

“The mix of new employees, experienced workers and training on processes and new equipment created a convergence of enthusiasm and innovation that we hope will energize winter maintenance operations,” said Steve Lund, state maintenance engineer.

In addition, Lund said, increased staffing for snow and ice operations means that transportation specialists, engineering specialists and others can stay focused on program delivery work during the winter.

The 2008 Minnesota Legislature provided $75 million in new funds that allow Mn/DOT to beef up staffing and purchase equipment and materials during the current biennium.

During the past year, Mn/DOT has hired more than 100 new maintenance staff, Lund said.

They include newly hired employees and seasonal employees appointed to full-time positions.

Many of the new full-time employees have completed the intense, two-week snowplow training course conducted by Mn/DOT at Camp Ripley each year.  

“Not only will they plow snow this winter, their hiring means we’ll be better staffed to do highway maintenance work year around,” Lund said.

By Kent Barnard, Metro District public affairs coordinator

Although the much-anticipated general election is still a few weeks away, your chance to vote for the best transportation project in the country will end this Friday, Oct. 10.

Minnesota’s recently completed reconstruction of Hwy 36 through North St. Paul is one of 10 projects on the ballot for the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials People’s Choice Award.  

Sponsored by AASHTO, AAA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the award is voted on by citizens to recognize projects that reduced congestion, created new access or opened up new business opportunities. Forty-one projects initially were entered into the competition; a judging panel narrowed the field to 10 projects:    

• Five bridges
• Two innovative interchanges
• One high-speed, non-stop toll plaza          
• One fast-track freeway (Hwy 36)
• One boost for a local airport
• One emergency recovery

The Hwy 36 project rebuilt the highway corridor between White Bear Avenue and Century Avenue (Hwy 120) to increase safety and improve access through Maplewood and North St. Paul.  

This $27 million project used innovative market research techniques to assess the effects of a long-term road closure, improved quality through the use of new construction techniques, and addressed construction impacts with creative traffic management solutions.

Among other features, the Hwy 36 project constructed:

• A diamond interchange at Hwy 36 and McKnight Road (County Hwy 68)
• A bridge to carry traffic on Margaret Street over Hwy 36  
• A pedestrian bridge over the highway to enhance safety for users of the Gateway Trail and eliminate some at-grade crossings on the trail  

The People’s Choice Award will fund a community service project selected by the winning state’s department of transportation. A second award, the Grand National Prize, will provide funds for a graduate-level educational grant in the transportation field for the winning state. Both awards will be presented at the AASHTO annual meeting on Oct. 19 in Hartford, Conn.  

To cast your vote, go to www.americastransportationaward.org. You’ll also be able to view a YouTube video of all 10 project finalists on that site.

By Lisa Yang

Commissioner Tom Sorel’s virtual water cooler is up and running on iHUB, waiting for Mn/DOT employees to send in questions, comments or ideas to share with him and Deputy Commissioner Khani Sahebjam.

“What’s the Buzz?” is an internal Web site the commissioner envisioned to ensure transparency within Mn/DOT.                                         

“The purpose is to respond to rumors, hear suggestions for innovation and air general concerns,” said Sorel, who will read each submission. He and Sahebjam will respond to as many comments as possible on the Web site.

The forum is not intended for employees to express personal concerns about co-workers.

For more information, go to What’s the Buzz?

Also new on the Web are the Commissioner’s Staff and Division Directors’ meeting notes.

By Della Ljungkull

In a year when many charities are hard-pressed to obtain donations, the state’s Combined Charities Campaign creates an easy way for state employees to help those in need: through payroll deduction.

“These times are getting tough with rising prices,” said Amy Zerwas, Mn/DOT’s campaign coordinator. “When times get tough, they are often hardest on the poorest, our neighbors and sometimes our co-workers. Those who are struggling need our help.”

With 38 charitable foundations registered for this year’s campaign, there are many options for employees. Combined, the foundations represent hundreds of statewide Minnesota charities that support health, education, environmental, arts and social service programs.

This year’s campaign goal is to raise more than $1 million from all state employees. Last year, the campaign raised $950,000.

In just the first three days of the campaign, 37 Mn/DOT employees have pledged $12,747 for their charities, Zerwas said.

While any donation is welcome, no employee is obligated to donate, Zerwas said.

The pledging process can be done by using the Minnesota Employee Self Service Web site. Employees who wish may also make a one-time only donation. All donations are tax deductible. Once the information is complete, a payroll deduction will begin the first paycheck in January 2009 and be applied on every paycheck through December. For one-time only donations, deductions will be made from the first paycheck in 2009.

“We can absolutely take a part in strengthening our communities, exceed our 5 percent goal, and help those in need,” Zerwas said.

The campaign will be hosting a lemonade and popcorn gathering on Oct. 15 in the Central Office’s ground floor lobby from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Deputy Commissioner Khani Sahebjam will speak at 11 a.m. at the event. Representatives from several charities also will be available with information and handouts.

For more information about the Combined Charities Campaign go to: https://www.doer.state.mn.us/charities/index.htm or call Amy Zerwas at 651-366-3386.

By Craig Wilkins

A $7.8 million contract to repair and reinstall the exterior granite panels on the Transportation Building in St. Paul was awarded to an Eden Prairie construction firm.

The Department of Administration, the building’s owner, awarded the contract Sept. 29.

Other contracts were awarded in 2001 for consulting, planning, architectural engineering and testing, said Harvey Jaeger, project manager with Administration.  

A start date for the project will be determined later this month, said Ed Clarke, Support Services Section director.

The repair is required because the steel anchors that hold the granite panels in place have rusted.  

Project work includes removing the panels and replacing the anchoring system. When removed, the panels will be cleaned and then reinstalled.

Granite panels on base-level floors do not require removal but will be cleaned and repaired as needed.

Clarke said informational meetings will be held to keep employees aware of the project’s scope and length.

Once started, he said, the project will take about 14 months to complete.

“The project team will focus on safety for employees and visitors and minimizing the work’s effects on building access for employees and visitors,” Clarke said.