By Matt Russell
mrussell@postbulletin.com
Road construction crews will be busy across southeastern Minnesota this summer.
At the same time, road construction activity is expected to pick up even more in the next three years as funding kicks in from a recently passed state transportation package, according to acting Minnesota Department of Transportation commissioner Bob McFarlin.
Among the major projects in the pipeline is replacing the U.S. 61 bridge in Hastings, where work is scheduled to begin by June 1, 2010, a timeline McFarlin called "very ambitious."
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In the more immediate future, however, here’s a look at projects MnDOT has planned for this summer in southeastern Minnesota:
• Minnesota Highway 21 north of its junction with Rice County Road 46 to where it meets Minnesota Highway 99 in Rice County: Resurfacing work is scheduled from July through October. The project is expected to result in two detours of two to three weeks each and daily lane closures with flaggers directing traffic.
• Faribault at Minnesota Highway 21 and 30th Street: A traffic signal will be installed. The project is scheduled for completion in May and is expected to result in occasional lane closures.
• The west side of U.S. 63 in Rochester just south of 48th Street Southwest: Work will be done to restore a channel in September. The southbound shoulder is expected to be closed and daily lane closures are also expected while work is completed.
• Minnesota Highway 74 in
St. Charles from its junction with U.S. 14 west to the east limits of Elba: Resurfacing work is expected to be done from May through July. Daily lane closures are expected, with flaggers directing traffic.
• Minnesota Highway 76 from the Iowa border to the south junction of Minnesota Highway 44 in Houston County: Upcoming work includes resurfacing, and replacing a culvert, turn lanes and guardrail. Estimated construction dates are July through October. A three- to four-week detour is expected from Eitzen to the south junction of Minnesota Highway 44. Daily lane closures are also expected.
• Interstate 90 from Alden to U.S. 63, in Freeborn and Mower counties except in Austin: Signs will be replaced in various locations. Work is expected from May to July and will result in occasional lane closures.
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• Minnesota Highway 105 from the Minnesota/Iowa border to the bridge over Turtle Creek north of 16th Avenue Southwest in Mower County: Road resurfacing work is expected in May that will result in lane closures.
• U.S. 218 west of its junction with Interstate 90 to Blooming Prairie: Road resurfacing is expected between May and July, with daily lane closures expected.
• Westbound Minnesota Highway 16 and southbound U.S. 61 in La Crescent: Grading and surfacing work is expected between May and September. The effect on traffic will include restricted turns at various intersections.
• U.S. 61 from Fourth Street in La Crescent to the south junction of Interstate 90 in Houston County: Work includes replacing shoulders; resealing joints, and replacing a guard rail is expected between July and October. Traffic will be restricted to a single lane in each direction for the duration of the project.
• Various locations on Minnesota Highway 16, U.S. 14, Minnesota Highway 60, and Minnesota Highway 43 in Houston, Rice and Winona counties: Work will be done to clean and seal cracks in May. Daily lane closures are expected.
• Between Dundas and Faribault on Minnesota Highway 3: Two deteriorating bridges will be replaced and an intersection improved. The project is expected to take place between May and September and will result in detours from Faribault to Dundas on Interstate 35 and county roads.
• Various locations on the west side of MnDOT’s southeastern Minnesota district: Preventative maintenance will be done to bridges including sealing bridge deck cracks and joints. Railings will also be painted. The work is expected between June and August and will result in daily lane closures.
For more information on MnDOT’s upcoming road projects,
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