News Release

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Gov. Tim Pawlenty today declared this week "Transportation Awareness Week" as the Minnesota Department of Transportation announced the beginning of the state's 2004 road construction season.

Mn/DOT will start or carry over some 190 construction projects designed to relieve congestion, improve interregional corridors and enhance safety on the state's 12,000-mile trunk highway system. Combined, the projects represent an investment of more than a billion dollars.

"The volume of the work on our roads represents our efforts to improve the statewide transportation system," said Lt. Gov. and Transportation Commissioner Carol Molnau. "Building more, building faster and moving better really captures the spirit of what taxpayers will see over the next six years."

" Mn/DOT will begin moving forward on the 12 major highway construction projects advanced under the Pawlenty-Molnau 2003 Transportation Finance Bill - the largest transportation investment in state history. This funding allows Mn/DOT to advance the projects by an average of five years per project or more than 65 years," said Molnau.

According to Bob Winter, Mn/DOT District Operations Division director, the funding package provides about $900 million over and above the state's current construction program and includes funds for transit-related highway work and safety and preservation projects. Bond-accelerated projects under way this season include:

Mn/DOT is also working on several other new and continuing projects. Highlights include:

More construction details are available at www.mndot.gov.

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, 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," she said.

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 http://www.511mn.org .

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. At the international level is World Health Day, celebrated this year on April 7, with the theme of "road safety" to raise awareness about road traffic injuries, their consequences and costs to society.

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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