MANKATO,
Minn. - District 7 of the Minnesota Department of Transportation
today announced the highway improvement projects for the
2004 construction season. District 7 is responsible for
1,345 miles of state and federal highways and 465 bridges
in 13 counties in south central and southwestern Minnesota.
This
year's construction program includes beginning another expansion
project on U.S. Highway 14 due to the Pawlenty-Molnau 2003
Transportation Finance Bill.
According
to Jim Swanson, Transportation District Engineer, the funding
package allowed District 7 to begin the Highway 14 Janesville
to Waseca segment one year earlier than scheduled, and more
importantly combine several projects into one so that we
can finish this segment three years a head schedule.
"The
staff here worked hard to have this large project ready
early and our hard work paid off. Not only was the Highway
14 project selected as one of the twelve projects to be
financed with state bonding and federal advance construction
dollars, but we were able to let the contract early in the
year and get a competitive bid on it," explained Swanson.
The
ten-mile, four-lane Highway 14 project was let in February
to Mathiowetz Construction of Sleepy Eye for $34,263,131
and work will begin in early May.
The
four-lane expansion work on Highway 14 should not disrupt
Highway 14 traffic this year as the new roadway is being
built south of the existing alignment. However, local roads
will be detoured at times. The project is expected to take
approximately two and a half years to complete.
Another
notable project is the reconstruction of Highway 14 in New
Ulm. Traffic will be detoured for two construction seasons
as this project is completed. A web site has been set up
at http://www.dot.state.mn.us/d7/projects/newulm14/
for the public to get updates and detour information.
The
remaining projects focus on safety, preservation of the
existing system and preventive maintenance such as seal
coats and rout and seals.
To
help travelers plan their trips to avoid major highway projects,
Mn/DOT urges drivers to use its new Traveler Information
System by dialing 5-1-1 or via the Web site at www.511mn.org
.
The
start of the construction season also signals the need for
drivers to use extra caution because the number of highway
work zones will grow rapidly with the onset of warmer weather.
Swanson
urges motorists to focus fully on their driving, especially
in work zones. That means not using cell phones, observing
work zone speed limits and staying alert for workers and
equipment in or near work zones.
In related
events, this week is National Work Zone Safety Week. Sponsored
by the American Traffic Safety Services Association, the
week is designated at this time each year to remind drivers
to proceed with caution in and around road construction
and maintenance work.
For
more specific information on statewide construction, including
statewide and district construction maps, visit the Mn/DOT
Web site at http://www.dot.state.mn.us/construction/.
Too
Fast. Too Close. Too Late.
See
ORANGE.
