Keep Safe in Minnesota Work Zones! MnDOT Starts Roadwork Projects

Now that winter’s (mostly) over, it’s time for road construction season in Minnesota. The Minnesota Department of Transportation announced its $900 million 2011 transportation construction program to increase safety, improve mobility, expand capacity, and preserve infrastructure statewide.

There are 258 state highway construction projects planned, as well as railroad crossing upgrades, repairs to seawalls and docks, runway and terminal repairs, and transit facility remodeling. “MnDOT 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 Commissioner.

Major Minnesota projects include:

• Converting Highway 169/Interstate 494 to a freeway to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion in Bloomington, Eden Prairie and Edina.
• Rebuilding the Highway 52 Lafayette Bridge in St. Paul.
• Continuing to resurface Interstate 94 between St. Paul and Minneapolis.
• Constructing a new interchange at Highway 101 and Highway 13 in Savage.
• Reconstructing the Highway 36 and Rice Street interchange and replacing the Rice Street bridge in Roseville/Little Canada.
• Replacing and repairing bridge and pavement on Interstate 35 from Boundary Avenue to 26t Avenue East in Duluth.
• Resurfacing Highway 34 from Park Rapids to Akeley, including installing turn lanes and replacing culverts.
• Constructing four lanes on Highway 23 east of St. Cloud to Foley.
• Replacing three bridges and resurfacing Highway 9 from the Norman/Clay county line to Highway 10.
• Constructing a four-lane expansion, including bridges, on Highway 14 by Waseca.

For a complete list of projects, including construction dates and traffic impacts, visit the MnDOT construction website.

Most injuries and deaths happen to motorists driving through work zones, and the main causes of work zone crashes are excessive speed and inattention by drivers. Remember, fines may double for violating traffic laws in work zones. To keep motorists and construction zone workers safe in highway work zones, MnDOT offers these tips:

• Obey posted speeds.
• Watch out for work zones.
• Stay alert, expect the unexpected.
• Never enter a roadway that has been blocked with barriers or cones.
• Don’t tailgate! Keep plenty of space between you and the vehicle ahead.
• Anticipate lane shifts and merge when directed to do so.
• Don’t change lanes unnecessarily.
• Avoid using cell phones and mobile devices while driving in work zones.
• Be patient. Expect delays, especially during peak travel times

If you’ve sustained injuries as a result of auto collision or a work zone accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Call us at 877-746-5680 or click here to send us an email to speak with Ron Meuser or Jen Yackley for a free, no-obligation legal consultation.