Nearly $900 million in transportation improvement projects that will increase safety, improve mobility, expand capacity and preserve infrastructure statewide will occur in 2011, Mn/DOT announced April 6 at its annual construction kickoff news conference.

Gov. Mark Dayton joined Commissioner Tom Sorel at the St. Paul Union Depot to announce this year’s program and talk about what it means for the state.

“Minnesota’s transportation system is a vital part of the state’s infrastructure and is essential for a strong and vibrant state economy,” Dayton said. “These projects will support thousands of jobs in Minnesota, from the construction workers directly working on the projects to others who work in the support industries for construction.” 

This year’s 258 state highway construction projects include the Hwy 169/Interstate 494 interchange in the Twin Cities and the second year of the bridge and pavement replacement on a section of I-35 in Duluth. Other projects improve safety at railroad crossings, repair seawalls and docks, make improvements on runways and terminals at regional airports, and remodel a transit facility.

“Mn/DOT is focused on improving our roads and bridges and maximizing the capacity of our multimodal transportation system to give the traveling public more options and improve Minnesotans’ quality of life,” Sorel said.

In addition, Sorel spoke about Minnesota’s Toward Zero Deaths program, a multi-agency initiative to change the traffic safety culture in Minnesota, as well as the department’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program, which was used in the contracting process for the I-694/Snelling Avenue interchange project in the north Twin Cities Metro area.

Lt. Eric Roeske, Minnesota State Patrol, and Tom O’Keefe, Metro District Program Delivery director, also spoke at the event. Lt. Roeske provided safe driving tips, while O’Keefe detailed the 2011 Metro District construction program, which includes:

• Converting Hwy 169/I-494 to a freeway to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion in Bloomington, Eden Prairie and Edina 
• Rebuilding the Hwy 52 Lafayette Bridge in St. Paul
• Continuing to resurface I-94 between St. Paul and Minneapolis
• Constructing a new interchange at Hwy 101 and Hwy 13 in Savage
• Reconstructing the Hwy 36 and Rice Street interchange and replacing the Rice Street bridge in Roseville/Little Canada

Districts across the state will resume or begin work on several projects as well:

Projects in southern Minnesota

• Constructing a four-lane expansion, including bridges, on Hwy 14 by Waseca.
• Constructing a new interchange at Hwy 14 and Nicollet County Road 41 in North Mankato. The project also includes converting two miles of Hwy 14 to a four-lane, divided highway between Belgrade Township and North Mankato
• Resurfacing Hwy 14 from Hwy 52 to Marion Road in Rochester
• Constructing the new Elk Run Interchange and a frontage road system on Hwy 52 near Pine Island
• Grading, resurfacing and constructing new turn lanes on Hwy 212 between Hector and Glencoe

Projects in northern, central Minnesota

• Crews pave a portion of I-35 in Duluth last fall as part of the multi-year Duluth Mega Project. Work recently resumed on the $66.9 million project, which is scheduled to run through November. Photo by Pat Huston

  Replacing and repairing bridge and pavement on I-35 from Boundary Avenue to 26th Avenue East in Duluth
• Finishing restoration work on the Hwy 61 Lester River Bridge in Duluth—the bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• Resurfacing Hwy 34 from Park Rapids to Akeley, including installing turn lanes and replacing culverts
• Constructing four lanes on Hwy 23 east of St. Cloud to Foley
• Replacing three bridges and resurfacing Hwy 9 from the Norman/Clay county line to Hwy 10

For a complete list of projects, including construction dates and traffic impacts, visit www.dot.state.mn.us/construction/.

“We do a great deal of engineering work to make our roads safer, but it takes the cooperation of our driving public to keep our roads safe,” Sorel said. “With all of the work zones operating across the state, I encourage motorists to drive with caution and plan ahead. We want all of you to arrive safely at your destinations. Our safety vision is zero deaths on the roadways.”

Tips for driving safely in work zones Check 511 for up-to-date information about traffic and road conditions. Stay alert, expect the unexpected. Be especially alert at night when driving through work zones. Never enter a road that has been blocked with barriers or cones. Minimize distractions. Don’t use cell phones. Remember text messaging while driving is illegal. Don’t eat or drink while driving. Avoid tailgating. Keep plenty of space between you and the vehicle ahead. Follow posted speed limits; fines double in work zones. Stay in one lane while driving through a work zone; don’t pass or change lanes unnecessarily. Be patient. Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.