Minnesota State Highway Road Construction Winds Down; Summer Of 2013 Saw More Than 300 Projects

Major bridge construction, new interchanges and road resurfacing were a big part of the 2013 construction season, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. This year’s program included more than 300 projects around the state with a construction cost of more than $1.1 billion.

The 2013 construction program included work on 87 highway and bridge projects in the Twin Cities and 193 highway and bridge projects in Greater Minnesota. An additional 57 projects statewide focused on improving safety at railroad crossings, repairing seawalls and docks, improving runways and terminals at regional airports, and improving transit centers.

“We started this season with more than 300 projects on the schedule,” said MnDOT Commissioner Charlie Zelle. “Many of the projects are now complete. The work is providing safer, smoother roadways and is maintaining the transportation network that is so vital to our state’s economy and quality of life.”

Projects in northern and central Minnesota include:

• I-535/Highway 53 Blatnik Bridge Rehabilitation – The project, which involved high-end maintenance work designed to extend the life of the bridge, was completed in October. The work included, replacing expansion joints, traffic rail and lighting system, strengthening gusset plates, sandblasting and painting. (Construction cost: $12.9 million)
• I-35 Unbonded Concrete Overlay from Scanlon to Proctor – This project was completed in October and provides motorists with 10 miles of smoother road surface for traveling. The project also included a reconstructed underpass at Highway 61 and Guss Road and the completed reconstruction of Highway 2 from Boundary Avenue to Skyline Parkway. (Construction cost: $30.1 million)
• Highway 9 between Ada to the Norman/Polk County line - Work is nearing completion on a 12-mile resurfacing project that also included the replacement of culverts along Highway 9 and the installation of a sub-surface drain on Highway 200 in Ada. (Construction cost: $5.02 million)
• Highway 15/County Road 120 in Sartell and St. Cloud - The project replaced an at-grade signalized intersection with a diverging diamond interchange and was completed in October. This is the second diverging diamond interchange to open in Minnesota, and the first with a fully operational signal system. The interchange is the final component of a multi-project initiative that improves safety and mobility on a system serving busy business districts and residential areas in two cities. (Construction cost: $10 million)
• I-94 between Clearwater and St. Cloud – Work was completed in July on the project to repave 7.5 miles of one of Minnesota’s busiest roads using an unbonded concrete overlay, where new concrete pavement is placed over the existing pavement. The new pavement is expected to last 30 years. (Construction cost: $16.4 million)
• I-94 cable median barrier installation – Installation of 30 miles of high-tension cable median barriers along I-94 in the Moorhead, Fergus Falls and Alexandria areas is complete. Crews will install cable median barriers in additional areas along I-94 next year. (Construction cost: $3.3 million)

Projects in the Twin Cities include:

• Interstate 694 in Arden Hills - Major reconstruction of the I-694/Highway 10 interchange at Snelling Avenue/Highway 51 and Hamline Avenue will be complete by late November. The two-year project is one of nine planned for the I-694 north central area. Work included reconstructing surrounding highways, rebuilding bridges in the corridor, separating two high-volume roadways, all of which will improve safety and mobility for motorists. (Construction cost: $48 million)
• Highway 36 and English Street in Maplewood - Crews have replaced a signalized intersection at Highway 36/English Street with a diamond interchange. Additional work included improvements to the County Road B/Highway 61 intersection, removing the existing access to Highway 36 at Hazelwood Street and Atlantic Street to improve safety, replacing the Bruce Vento Trail pedestrian and bicycle bridge, and improving drainage. This project will be complete by December. (Construction cost: $17.3 million)
• Highway 169 and County Road 30 Interchange - Completed in late October, this project removed the existing traffic signal at Highway 169 and County Road 30 intersection and constructed a new interchange to improve safety and help alleviate congestion on Highway 169 between Shakopee and Champlin. (Construction cost: $8.2 million)
• Highway 52/Lafayette Bridge - The new northbound Highway 52/Lafayette Bridge will be completed at the end of 2013, at which time traffic will be switched to the new northbound bridge. The existing Highway 52/Lafayette Bridge will be demolished, and the new southbound Highway 52 Bridge will be constructed in 2014. (Construction cost: $130.4 million)
• Hastings Bridge over the Mississippi River - The project, which began in 2010, is scheduled to have all four lanes open to traffic in November, which will enhance mobility and safety for the region. Project completion is set for 2014. (Construction cost: $130 million)
• I-35/35E Elko to Eagan - Work is nearing completion on a series of projects along this corridor, which included resurfacing repairs and upgrades from County Road 2 in Elko to Cliff Road in Eagan and painting bridges along I-35W. The project will be finished in 2014. (Construction cost: $20 million)