At a news conference April 8, Deputy Commissioner Khani Sahebjam, left, and Scott McBride, Metro District engineer, highlight some of the highway and bridge projects that Mn/DOT will be constructing in 2009. Photo by Bob Filipczak |
Mn/DOT April 8 announced a $1.4 billion construction program for 2009 that includes 223 state highway and bridge projects.
Included in the program are 63 projects in Greater Minnesota that are funded with federal economic stimulus dollars; Twin Cities’ federal stimulus projects have not yet been announced.
“Over the last six years we’ve moved forward with more highway construction than in any other comparable period in Minnesota’s history,” said Gov. Tim Pawlenty. “People sometimes say Minnesota has two seasons – winter and road construction. This past winter was pretty intense and this upcoming construction season will be, too. Our aim is to move people and goods faster, better and safer throughout Minnesota.”
Deputy Commissioner Khani Sahebjam and Metro District Engineer Scott McBride joined the governor in making the announcement at the Cedar Avenue Truck Station in Richfield.
“There will be many more orange cones this year, but it will benefit the state significantly,” Pawlenty said.
“Take a deep breath and celebrate the fact that people are working,” McBride said.
Sahebjam asked motorists to “be patient with us as you drive through the work zone and keep both hands on the wheel.
“Your destination is our priority,” he said.
Some of the 51 projects in the Twin Cities include:
Hwy 169 near Chisholm is one of the projects funded this year with federal economic stimulus dollars. Above, MnDOT's geo-technical consultant drills scores of test borings in an attempt to locate unrecorded underground iron ore mine shafts that are a century old. Mn/DOT will strengthen the higway with thick concrete pavement fortified with steel reinforcement bars. A high-tech sensing system will be installed to pick up any below-ground movements under the new pavement.
Photo by John Bray |
Projects in northern and central Minnesota include:
- Rebuilding the Hwy 23 bridge in St. Cloud ($19.2 million)
- Reconstructing Hwy 61 north of Tofte ($11.9 million)
- Rehabilitating concrete on I-94 north of Fergus Falls to the Grant County line, including rest area work ($10 million)
- Resurfacing Hwy 1 between Warren and Thief River falls ($8.6 million)
- Reinforcing a portion of Hwy 169 near Chisholm where abandoned underground mines have weakened the roadbed ($7.7 million)
- Resurfacing the westbound lanes of Hwy 10 between Hawley and Dilworth ($7.1 million)
- Resurfacing Hwy 10 between Wadena and Motley ($6.8 million)
Projects in southern Minnesota include:
- Realigning and expanding Hwy 14 south of Owatonna and building a new I-35/ Hwy 14 interchange ($51.8 million)
- Replacing bridges on I-90 in Mower County ($13.5 million)
- Reconstructing Hwy 169 through downtown St. Peter ($13.1 million)
- Replacing bridges on I-90 in Winona County ($4.4 million)
- Repairing pavement on I-90 in Faribault County ($3.9 million)
- Resurfacing Hwy 60 in Goodhue County ($3.3 million)
For a complete list of projects, visit www.mndot.gov.
For information on transportation and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, see www.dot.state.mn.us/federalrecovery.
Work on replacing the Hwy 23 Mississippi River bridge in St. Cloud is already underway, as seen here in March. The bridge is one of 223 projects that will be worked on during the 2009 construction season. Photo by Kevin Kiess |
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