Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) officials are touting the advancement or completion of more than 200 road and bridge projects during the 2020 construction season.
“Minnesota’s 2020 construction program represented a broad mix of projects that improved all modes of transportation and provided jobs throughout the state during a challenging year,” Jay Hietpas, MnDOT assistant commissioner, operations, said. “While COVID-19 created challenges in some areas, the reduced traffic volumes we saw early in the season helped in some cases to minimize disruptions to travelers. We want to thank everyone in both the private and public sectors who helped make this season a success and worked diligently to keep projects on track.”
Additionally, 36 projects enhanced safety at railroad crossings, and 15 projects extended or repaired runways or other infrastructure at local airports, officials said.
The Highway 5 Around the Airport construction near MSP International Airport is among the notable projects completed this year, per MnDOT, in addition to the new Highway 63 bridge in Red Wing; concrete resurfacing and safety improvements along 18 miles of Highway 23 between Cottonwood and Granite Falls; and reconstruction of five miles of Highway 210 west of Fergus Falls.
Officials indicated the Twin Ports Interchange in Duluth and improvements to Interstate 94 between Maple Grove and Clearwater serve as multi-year projects that began this year.