By Rep. Paul Anderson
With the early-spring weather we’ve been experiencing, the next of our theatre of seasons, “road construction,” will soon be with us. Our legislative district actually spans two MnDOT districts, with one headquartered in Detroit Lakes and the other in Baxter and St. Cloud. I met last week with engineers from each district and received a run-down on projects coming up this year and in the future.
If one travels the freeway toward the metro, you know how many chuck holes have sprung up this winter on I-94. One of the worst stretches, from Melrose to Freeport, will be worked on this summer. In all, nine miles will be resurfaced late this summer with daytime single lane closures to be expected. Also scheduled this summer is a bridge replacement over Hoboken Creek on Highway 28 west of Sauk Centre. A detour will be in place during the July through September time frame for that project.
A major roadway just east of our district, Highway 23, will see more work in the years ahead. Of the 53 miles between Willmar and I-94, all but 16 have been constructed as a four-lane highway. The north gap between Paynesville and Richmond is scheduled for construction two years out, while work on the south portion from New London to Paynesville will begin in 2023.
Speaking of I-94, major work on that route will take place over the next three years. With traffic already bad during rush hour on stretches of the freeway, it will be worse during construction. When all the work is completed, I-94 will be a full six-lane roadway all the way from Monticello to Rogers, where there already are six lanes of traffic.
Highway 27 from I 94 south of Osakis over to Highway 71 between Sauk Centre and Long Prairie is scheduled to be worked on in 2022. It’s a full-depth reclaim project with bridge replacement and shoulder widening also part of the job.
Further to the west, in MnDOT District 4, a major project is set for this summer in Starbuck. It’s a Complete Streets project with work to be done on all highways leading into the city, including Highways 28, 29, and 114. That work is set to begin late next month.
The rail-grade separation crossing between Glenwood and Alexandria on Highway 29 is scheduled for next year. Bid letting is set for January of ‘21, with construction to begin later that year. It’s possible the entire project could take two years to complete. Just north of Glenwood, two round-abouts are also part of that project.
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With the latest budget forecast increasing Minnesota’s projected surplus to $1.5 billion, we certainly should undertake major tax reform. Two of the top priorities will be full conformity with Section 179 expensing and the elimination of state income taxes on Social Security proceeds. Look for House Republicans to release their budget plan this week.
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