By J.P. Gillach

While this winter’s El Niño is turning up unseasonably warm 60-degree temperatures to parts of the state this week, MnDOT’s 2023 construction season continues winding down. This year, the agency advanced or completed 227 road and bridge projects.

Major projects completed in 2023

Notable road construction projects completed during the 2023 construction season include the three-year Third Ave. bridge project in Minneapolis, the three-year Hwy 52 project between Zumbrota and Cannon Falls, a two-year project that expanded Hwy 14 from two lanes to four lanes between New Ulm and Nicollet, a two-year project that expanded Hwy 23 from two to four lanes between Paynesville and Richmond, three bridge projects along Hwy 61 near Lake Superior’s North Shore, resurfacing and interchange improvements on I-94 near Alexandria and a new Hwy 25 bridge over a BNSF railroad line in Brainerd.
More construction highlights along with links to project webpages are below. To view the 2023 interactive map, which includes most of this season’s projects, visit MnDOT's construction webpage.

Twin Cities

• Third Ave. bridge (Minneapolis): Extended the life of the 105-year-old historic bridge in downtown Minneapolis by repairing expansion joints, concrete and bridge foundations, refurbishing an ornamental rail, updated lighting and building a protected bikeway to improve safety. This was the final year of the three-year project.
• Hwy 55/Hiawatha Ave (Minneapolis): Resurfaced between I-35W and Hwy 62, repaired bridges, improved drainage and improved accessibility and safety at intersections.
• Hwy 21 (Jordan): Constructed a roundabout at Hwy 21 and County Rd. 66/Sawmill Rd. and built trails that connect bike and walking trails and improve accessibility.
• Hwy 169 Interchange (New Hope and Plymouth): Replaced bridge and reconstructed interchange at Hwy 169 and County Road 9 (Rockford Rd./42nd Ave.) to improve safety, accessibility, improve traffic flow and decrease driving delays.
• I-494 and I-94: Started multi-year projects to improve I-494 in Bloomington and I-94 between Oakdale and the Wisconsin border.

Northern Minnesota (Districts 1 and 2)

• Hwy 61 (Stewart River and Silver Creek): Replaced box culvert with a new bridge, added bike/pedestrian crossing that connects to Gitchi-Gami bike trail and completed stream restoration at Silver Creek. Rehabilitated the historic bridge to carry northbound traffic, built a second bridge for southbound traffic and constructed new turn lanes at Stewart River.
• Hwy 61 (Pigeon River): Improved approaches and redecked bridge spanning the Pigeon River at the U.S.-Canadian Border crossing.
• Hwy 38 (Bigfork): Completed reconstruction through Bigfork including new sidewalks, lighting and landscaping.
• Hwy 1/169 (Tower): Resurfaced almost seven miles of Hwy 1 and Hwy 169 south of Tower.
• Hwy 34 (Akeley): Resurfaced road to provide a smoother ride, improved drainage, improved accessibility, safer intersections and safer pedestrian and bike facilities. Crews will return in spring 2024 to complete remaining work from Akeley Fire Hall to Hillside.
• Hwy 59 (south of Thief River Falls): Resurfaced road between Pennington Cty. Rd. 53 and Thief River Falls, installed roundabout at the Hwy 59/Pennington Cty. Rd. 3 intersection, replaced culverts and widened shoulders. The project provides a smoother ride, improve drainage and a safer intersection.
• Hwy 75/171 (north of Hallock): Resurfaced Hwy 75 from Hallock to the Canadian border and Hwy 171 from Hwy 75 to the North Dakota border and replaced culverts to provide a smoother driving surface and improved drainage.
• Hwy 197 (Bemidji): Resurfaced road between Bemidji Ave. and Hannah Ave. to extend pavement life before a permanent project is planned in about 10 years. This project was completed at night using lane closures.

Central Minnesota (MnDOT Districts 3 and 4)

• Hwy 10 and 23 (St. Cloud): Completed first year of a two-year project to reconstruct the Hwy 10/Hwy 23 interchange in east St. Cloud. Crews reconstructed the westbound Hwy 23 road surface, bridge and adjacent entrances between 25th Ave. SE and Wilson Ave. SE; the eastbound Hwy 10 road surface and adjacent entrances between Benton Dr. SE and 15th Ave. SE and began work on the future Fourth St. bridge.
• Hwy 25 (Brainerd): Replaced the old Hwy 25 bridge over the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway line between Hwy 210 (Washington St.) and Hwy 18 with a new, wider bridge. Resurfaced the road north and south of the bridge. Added right-turn lanes to Red Pine Rd. and 28th St. E.
• Hwy 169 (Aitkin): Completed first year of a two-year project to reconstruct 11 miles of Hwy 169 between Aitkin and the Mississippi River, north of Hassman. Crews reconstructed the road surface with a stronger concrete overlay material, widened the shoulders and replaced drainage infrastructure from Hwy 210 to the Mississippi River. When complete in 2024, the road will have a wider, smoother surface, and improved safety, access, traffic flow and drainage infrastructure.
• Hwy 169 (Elk River): Completed second year of major construction on a multi-year project to convert three miles of Hwy 169 through Elk River to a freeway. Crews constructed two new interchanges at School St. and Jackson Ave./193rd Ave., including freeway lanes, adjacent city roads and sidewalks, utilities and underground infrastructure. When complete in 2024, the project will improve traffic flow, increase capacity and improve motorist and pedestrian safety.
• I-94 (Alexandria): Resurfaced westbound I-94, west of Alexandria near Hwy 114 and constructed roundabouts at the I-94 and Hwy 27 interchange near Alexandria.
• Hwy 34 (between Detroit Lakes and Osage): Resurfaced 21 miles of roadway and replaced box culvert/bridge over the Shell River.
• Hwy 9 (Barnesville Complete Streets): Reconstructed and resurfaced the road, replaced city utilities and improved pedestrian and bicycle access. 

Southeast Minnesota (MnDOT District 6)

• Hwy 52 (Zumbrota to Cannon Falls): Completed final year of a three-year project. Reconstructed 12.5 miles of southbound Hwy 52, built a new interchange at Hwy 52 and Hwy 57/Goodhue Cty. Rd. 8, replaced three bridges at interchanges and one over a river, built a noise wall and installed permanent snow fence.
• Hwy 61 (Lake City to Red Wing): Resurfaced 10 miles of highway while also adding two passing lanes and nine turn lanes.
• Hwy 57 (Kasson): Completed final year of two-year project that reconstructed one mile of road and built two roundabouts.
• I-35 (Faribault): Completed first year of two-year project. Resurfaced portions of road and repaired two ramps. Work next year includes resurfacing northbound and southbound lanes and reconstructing three ramps.

Southwest Minnesota (MnDOT District 7 and District 8)

• Hwy 14 (New Ulm to Nicollet): Currently nearing completion. When finished, this two-year project that will convert the two-lane highway to a four-lane divided highway, creating a continuous four-lane road between New Ulm and Rochester. Crews also constructed new interchanges near Courtland and at County Road 37 in New Ulm, added turn lanes and installed snow fence.
• Hwy 23 (New London to Paynesville): Completed the first year of a two-year Corridors of Commerce project to expand Hwy 23 to four lanes.
• Hwy 7 (Lester Prairie): Constructed a roundabout at the intersection of Hwy 7 and McLeod County Road 1 near Lester Prairie.
• Hwy 212 (Renville to Granite Falls): Resurfaced Hwy 212 with concrete from Renville to Granite Falls and reconstructed Hwy 212 through Sacred Heart; updated sidewalks, pedestrian ramps and adjacent driveways; added a westbound passing lane near Granite Falls.
• Hwy 15/60 (Madelia): Resurfaced seven miles of roadway with a concrete pavement overlay; updated lighting and guardrail, improved drainage and rehabbed several bridges during the 2022-2023 project.
• I-90 (Blue Earth to Wells): Resurfaced westbound lanes from two miles west of Hwy 169 to Hwy 22 south of Wells, improved ramps, bridges, culverts and lighting. Eastbound lanes will be under construction in 2024.

For a complete list of current and future MnDOT construction projects, including plans and studies, visit the  MnDOT roadwork webpage.

A MnDOT-led program, held in partnership with Tribal nations, recently marked its fifth year of combining small business training and workforce training on tribal land.

In this year’s program, which ran for five days in June, trainees from the Lower Sioux Indian Community learned how to do cement work that complies with the American with Disabilities Act. The training included hands-on projects to provide new ramps for accessible walkways and entrances for two of the community’s buildings, the Elders Duplex and Incubator Cultural Center.

“The ADA has a huge impact on our roads and walkways,” said Tracy Dallenbach, a participating Lower Sioux Community member. “This ADA training helped me better understand the legal rights of people with disabilities and how to ensure that places are accessible.”

Established in 2019 and held each year, the program has built on the successful collaboration of the offices of Advancing Equity, Civil Rights, Districts, Tribal Affairs, as well as each participating Tribal nation.

During a “train the trainer” week, Eric Apland, Mindy Heinkel and Aree Muhammed from the Office of Advancing Equity worked with two small businesses, Holliday Construction and IMO Consulting Group, to prepare for the official program.

They then led the program, instructing trainees from the Lower Sioux Indian Community in how to build and inspect ramps, curbs and walkways that comply with the ADA, Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines and MnDOT standards. Training included reading plans, grading and erosion control, building forms and inspecting.

“This training is challenging,” said Mindy Heinkel, interim director of Office of Advancing Equity, “but it’s designed in a way that makes it digestible in phases.”

This approach included a “split-class” approach. “Providing information in the classroom then following with hands-on experience was a great way to understand,” said trainee and Lower Sioux Community member Steven Pendleton.

All Tribal participants graduated as MnDOT ADA Construction Cardholders. This, along with the many networking opportunities built into the training, makes these individuals well-placed to gain MnDOT work.

The program also facilitates relationship-building among Tribal governments, Tribal members, small business consultants and subcontractors, prime contractors and MnDOT offices. The program has been primarily funded through Advancing Equity, Civil Rights and the tribes. Other MnDOT offices that have supported this training include Consultant Services, districts offices (District 8 was this year’s partner), Minnesota Management and Budget, and Purchasing. Coordination with the Lower Sioux Indian Community was crucial to tailor the training and plan for success. Tribal representatives selected the locations, time, contractor, and participants.

“This is a true collaboration,” Heinkel noted. “All stakeholders worked together to layer resources and strategies to accomplish a common goal. When people with different experiences and resources work together, the participants benefit. We create access, the community benefits, and we build lasting relationships.”

For 2024, plans are for two Tribal ADA hands-on training programs. For more information, contact
Mindy Heinkel or Adam Marks.

By Doug Mack

Minnesota Management and Budget has launched the 2024 Open Enrollment website, which includes details on signing up for, changing or waiving benefits for 2024.

The open enrollment period began on Oct. 26 and will end on Wednesday, Nov. 15 at 11:59 p.m.

The website includes 2024 premium rates, along with other information on employee benefits such as:

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Long-term Disability insurance
• Life insurance
• Manager's Income Protection Program
• Pre-tax Expense Accounts
  

By Doug Mack

Can you name the place pictured below? The ground-level photo is from a MnDOT employee and the satellite image is from the 511 website and app.

If you think you know the answer, email Newsline editor Doug Mack. The first three people to submit the correct answer will receive the fame and glory of having their names listed in the next issue of Newsline.

Answer to the last Puzzler: Hwy 23 in Richmond. The first people to get it right were Patrick Gilbertson (Central Office), Joel Sween (District 6) and Brian Unbehaun (Central Office). Congrats to them and thanks to everyone who played! This was the hardest one yet.

Special thanks to Lia Nistler (District 3), who suggested this location. If you know a place that would make a good Puzzler, please get in touch!

By Zoë Muellerleile, Office of Land Management

Nov. 13 to Nov. 19 is Transgender Awareness Week, leading up to Transgender Day of Remembrance on Nov. 20.

Most of you are already aware of the general transgender story: Once upon a time, there was a person who knew something was wrong. This person had been born in the wrong body, so they transitioned and then they lived happily ever after, the end. The difficulty is that this story is not the experience of many trans people, including me.

I want to use two parts of my own coming-out to show what the common story leaves out. Maybe something will resonate with you or you’ll understand how to be a better ally to your transgender friends, relatives, colleagues and community members.

We don’t always know from an early age. “Gender Dysphoria” is a term commonly used for the negative feelings transgender people have about living as the wrong gender. There is no single version of “this is what gender dysphoria feels like,” because it can include so many different feelings. Some people have the insight or luck to understand their negative feelings in terms of, for example, being in the wrong body or wishing they were born as the gender they know themselves to be deep down. But we all interpret our feelings differently. For me, I had a lot of hatred towards my body as I was going through puberty – I felt that the person I was becoming felt wrong. I just understood it as depression, rather than as a manifestation of dysphoria. I treated the symptom until happenstance lead me to realize the cause.

Transition means so many things. Transitioning can include social transitioning (such as selecting a new name, vocal training and adopting new ways of presenting yourself) and medical transitioning (including things like hormone replacement therapy, vocal training, and sometimes surgical procedures). Everyone has different transition goals, so there are no designated checkpoints and finish line, after which you’re “fully transitioned.”

For me, transitioning is a continuous process of discovery. I reflect on the changes I notice in my body, the ways my thought processes feel different, and the relationship I have with these changes, and I evaluate the positives and negatives. This process of discovery is true socially as well – cringeworthy early transition outfits are a rite of passage in the transgender community.

Finally, transition means hope. I didn’t want to wish for impossible things as a child, but I did not know what was possible. It’s exciting, it’s scary and it changed my life for the better.

For additional information including Minnesota’s LGBTQ+ Laws and Policies and resources for transgender employees and allies, visit the Q&A ERG page on iHUB.