Contacts
- Nick Carpenter
651-366-4279
Location
Minnesota Department of
Transportation
Office of Communications
395 John Ireland Blvd.
Mail Stop 150
St. Paul, MN 55155-1899
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Mn/DOT's Adopt a Highway program celebrates 20 years of clean highways
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Mn/DOT’s Adopt a Highway program, a public service campaign where community groups, churches, businesses and individuals pick up litter along Minnesota highways.
“The program enables environmentally conscious people to make a personal contribution to a cleaner environment,” said Jan Ekern, Statewide Adopt a Highway coordinator. “Thanks to these dedicated volunteers and their organizations, our department can use the resources that would have been used to pick up litter for highway improvement and safety projects.”
In the 20 years since its introduction, the program has saved the state of Minnesota millions of dollars.
“Adopt a Highway volunteers pick up 26,000 tons of litter per year along Minnesota highways,” Ekern said. “This saves Mn/DOT an estimated $5 million annually.”
There are more than 12,000 miles of state highway in Minnesota of which 9,800 miles are adopted. Currently, there are an estimated 4,500 statewide groups and 45,000 volunteers registered.
“With April 22 marking the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, it’s outstanding to see the number of people willing to make a difference in this environmentally altering effort,” Ekern said. “Still, there are many more miles of highway waiting to be adopted.”
Those interested in adopting a highway can visit: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/adopt/contact.html to find out who to contact in their area.
By joining the Adopt a Highway program, groups agree to:
- Adopt a highway for a minimum of two years.
- Select a segment of highway approximately two miles in length.
- Pick up litter on both sides of a highway.
- Pick up litter as often as needed spring through fall—usually two to three times a year. The spring pickup should be done in April or May before the first grass mowing.
- Notify Mn/DOT after every pickup.
In return, Mn/DOT will:
- Help your group select a highway to adopt—roads that have heavy traffic or are inaccessible to pedestrians are not eligible.
- Provide retroreflective safety vests, trash bags and safety information—a safety training video is available from your Adopt a Highway coordinator or at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFxiDZ6O0hA.
- Remove filled bags and large, heavy or hazardous items from roadsides.
- Erect a sign along your group’s section of highway to recognize your commitment to a cleaner environment.
To find out how to get involved in Mn/DOT’s Adopt a Highway program, visit http://www.dot.state.mn.us/adopt or call Jan Ekern at 651-366-3548.
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