Mn/DOT LAUNCHES 2003
CONSTRUCTION SEASON
Without new state funding, construction set
to drop by nearly half next year
ST. PAUL, Minn.
- The Minnesota Department of Transportation today announced the
beginning of the state's 2003 highway improvement program. Mn/DOT
will start or carry-over nearly 200 construction projects designed
to relieve congestion, improve interregional corridors and enhance
safety on the state's 12,000-mile trunk highway system.
The 2003 program
includes 137 projects in Greater Minnesota and 62 projects in the
Twin Cities. Of that total, there are 79 projects carried over from
the previous construction season and 120 new ones valued at $600
million for this construction season.
Mn/DOT officials warned, however, that investments in highway construction
and preservation projects will drop dramatically beginning next
year unless the state Legislature approves additional transportation
funding this session.
"The $459 million in one-time funding allocated by the 2000
Legislature has boosted spending on transportation to record levels
for now. Without that funding, Mn/DOT could not have accelerated
projects like the Hwy 371 bypass in Brainerd, the Wakota Bridge
in South St. Paul and improvements to Hwy 52 in Rochester,"
said Lt. Gov. and Transportation Commissioner Carol Molnau. "But
this one-time money will be spent by June 30. Without additional
financing, construction next year could be reduced by as much as
50 percent."
Last month, Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Molnau unveiled a transportation-financing
package that would invest $1-$1.2 billion to accelerate critical
highway and bridge improvement projects by as much as nine years.
This proposal also includes $50 million for highway improvements
that will support transit needs in the Twin Cities metro area and
$5 million for transit programs in Greater Minnesota.
According to Bob Winter, Mn/DOT District Operations Division director,
the department is on track to use the full allocation it received
in 2000.
"Much of the 2003 program represents the value of the one-time
funding package to remove Metro area bottlenecks and improve highway
corridors across the state," he said.
Major projects around the state specific to the one-time funding
include:
* Four-lane expansions of Hwy 53 (Piedmont Ave.) in Duluth; Hwy
23 from Cold Spring to Richmond; and Hwy 60 from Heron Lake to Wilder
* Six-lane expansions in the Twin Cities on I-494 from Hwy 5 to
France Ave and on I-94/I-694 from the I-494 split to Hwy 252; and
in Rochester on Hwy 52 in southern Minnesota
* Bridge replacements on I-494/Hwy 61 (Wakota Bridge) in South St.
Paul
* New interchanges on Hwy 169 in Sherburne County; on Hwy 52 in
Rosemount; and on Hwy 100 in Golden Valley
According to Dave Trooien, Mn/DOT District Engineer, this summer's
highway construction season in District 8 will focus on the $39
million Highway 23 construction project north of Willmar. The project
will expand 11 miles of Highway 23 to four-lanes between junction
U.S. Highway 71 and County Road 31. The project will also include
an interchange at County Road 9. For more information on the Highway
23 project, visit our web site at www.dot.state.mn.us/d8/projects/23.
Mn/DOT District 8, with offices in Willmar, Marshall and Hutchinson,
covers 12 counties in southwest Minnesota.
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.
Mn/DOT urges motorists to focus fully on their driving, especially
in work zones. That means, Molnau said, not using cell phones, observing
work zone speed limits and staying alert for workers and equipment
in or near work zones.
The department will use public service announcements, billboards,
highway signs and other measures to warn drivers about work zone
safety, but motorists carry their share of responsibility for safe
driving in work zones as well.
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 Internet at http://www.511mn.org
.
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