The Minnesota Department of Transportation on Wednesday announced a nearly $900 million transportation construction program for 2011 that includes an interchange at Pine Island and resurfacing projects along U.S. 14 in Rochester, Interstate 90 and U.S. 61.
Officials say the statewide projects will increase safety, improve mobility, expand capacity and preserve infrastructure statewide.
This year’s 258 state highway construction projects include work in southeast Minnesota:
• Constructing a new interchange on U.S. 52 near Pine Island.
• Resurfacing U.S.14 in Rochester, including traffic signal revisions and intersection improvements.
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• Replacing the bridge on U.S. 61 over Gilbert Creek at Lake City.
• Resurfacing Interstate 90 eastbound lanes from Minnesota Highway 43 to Minnesota Highway 76 in Winona County.
• Resurfacing Minnesota Highway 248 from Altura to U.S. 61.
• Making safety improvements along Interstate 35 in Freeborn, Steele and Rice counties including traffic cameras and an overhead changeable message sign.
At the announcement Wednesday, Gov. Mark Dayton said, "Minnesota’s transportation system is a vital part of the state’s infrastructure and is essential for a strong and vibrant state economy. These projects will support thousands of jobs in Minnesota, from the construction workers directly working on the projects to others who work in the support industries for construction."
Other projects in the state will improve safety at railroad crossings, repair seawalls and docks, make improvements on runways and terminals at regional airports, and remodel a transit facility, MnDOT said.
"Mn/DOT is focused on improving our roads and bridges and maximizing the capacity of our multimodal transportation system to give the traveling public more options and improve Minnesotans’ quality of life," said Tom Sorel, MnDOT's commissioner.
