MnDOT announces 2013 state road construction program

More than 300 construction projects scheduled for 2013 will do much to improve highways, bridges and other state transportation infrastructure to ensure the safety and mobility of the travelling public, the Minnesota Department of Transportation announced recently. 

     “The $1.1 billion that we are investing in our state transportation system this year will increase regional connections throughout the state, as well as support jobs and community-building that make Minnesota a great place to live and do business,” said Charlie Zelle, MnDOT Commissioner.

     “The transportation infrastructure is a key component to our state’s economy. This work helps ensure that motorists can continue to get to work, to recreation and that goods and services can get to us.” 

     The 2013 construction program includes work on 87 projects in the Twin Cities and 193 projects in Greater Minnesota. An additional 57 projects statewide will improve safety at railroad crossings, repair seawalls and docks, make improvements on runways and terminals at regional airports, and improve transit centers.

     One of the highest profile projects will have a significant impact on residents of New Prague, Montgomery, Elko New Market and Lonsdale is the I-35/I-35E pavement, bridge and guardrail construction from Elko to Eagan. Several different projects will require lane closures, road closures and detours at various times during the construction season. 

     Due to the impact of the project, area residents and business owners are invited to attend an open house to learn more about the upcoming roadwork from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 16, at the Elko New Market Library, 110 J. Roberts Way in Elko New Market. A short presentation will begin at 7:45 a.m.

Representatives from MnDOT will be available to answer questions and provide information about the project.

     Those planning to attend who may need an ASL or foreign language interpreter should call 651-366-4720. To request other reasonable accommodations, call 651-366-4718; the Minnesota Relay service toll-free at 1-800-627-3529 (TTY, Voice or ASCII) or 711, or email your request to adarequest.dot@state.mn.us.

     Area projects that might have an impact on area residents: 

• Highway 169 - at County Road 69 in Scott County (Shakopee exit) reconstruction of intersection into a grade separate full access interchange, from September 2013 to November 2014, will require lane closures and delays. 

• Highway 169 - from Highway 101 in Shakopee to Pioneer Trail in Bloomington, replace and repair bridge, from July until fall. Will require temporary lane closures, detours, single-lane traffic and delays. 

• -35 from Scott County Road 2 to Dakota County Highway 70, install cable median barrier, from August until October, will require single lane traffic from an associated concrete repair project.

• -35 from County Road 2 in Scott County to I-35E/35W split in Burnsville, replace and repair concrete pavement, resurface road, from August to October, 2013, will require lane closures, with significant delays expected. 

• -35E from I-35W/35E split in Burnsville to Cliff Road in Eagan, replace bridge deck, paint bridge, repair concrete pavement and construct guardrail from April to August, 2013. Will require temporary lane closures, single lane restrictions, closure of southbound 35E and detours. 

• -35W from 90th Street to 82nd Street in Bloomington, replacement and repair of bridge decks from May to August, will require temporary lane closures and restrictions on bridges. 

• 35W from County Road 42 to Burnsville Parkway, painting of bridges from May to August, requiring weekend closures and detours. 

• -35W from McAndrews to Burnsville Parkway, landscaping from May to June, requiring temporary lane restrictions. 

• Highway 3 from Faribault to Northfield, resurface road from May to June, daily lane closures with flaggers.

• -35 from Faribault to Owatonna, resurface road from July to October, requiring daily lane closures with flaggers. 

   For a complete list of projects, including construction dates and traffic impacts, visit www.mndot.gov/construction.

   In addition, motorists can keep informed about projects and other transportation topics by connecting to MnDOT via social media, as well as signing up to receive email updates at www.mndot.gov.