MnDOT Reveals Its 2023 Road And Transit Construction Projects

Here are some major ones to keep in mind as we enter construction season.

As the winter season comes to an end, construction season has arrived in Minnesota.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation released its 2023 construction season projects plan Wednesday.

A total of 223 construction projects are planned for roads, bridges and other areas, such as airports, water ports, railroad crossings and transit. It's a touch lower than last year, when MnDOT rolled out 235 projects.

Some of the projects are new and others are continuations of existing projects.

Existing projects that will see major investments include work on I-35, I-535 and Hwy. 53 in the Twin Ports ($166 million spending this year); the reconstruction of the I-35W/I-494 interchange in Bloomington and Richfield ($154.5 million spending this year); and the resurfacing of I-94 from Hwy. 120 in Oakdale to the St. Croix River in Lakeland ($107.9 million in spending this year).

Other major undertakings include the redecking and repairing of the I-35 Atkinson Bridge over Carlton County Road 61; $60 million spending on five bridge replacements on I-494 in Bloomington and Eagan; the ongoing conversion of Hwy. 169 to a freeway system in Elk River; and further progress on the multi-year project on Hwy. 52 between Rosemount and Hampton Township.

"MnDOT has a robust construction program planned this year, and we need motorists’ help to keep everyone safe: obey speed limits and slow down in work zones, put away cell phones and other distractions, be patient, and plan ahead for detours,” Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger said.

Here's a look at some noteworthy projects in 2023:

New Twin Cities metro road projects

• I-35W/494 interchange in Bloomington/Richfield - Nov. 2023-2026: Repair, replace and construct new bridges from West Bush Lake Road to Hwy. 77. Cost: $154,584,000

• I-94 from Hwy. 120 (Century Ave.) in Oakdale to the St. Croix River in Lakeland - April 2023-2024: Implement a traffic management system, drainage, signing, lighting, guardrail, noise wall, median barrier, improve accessibility, repave frontage roads, construct an eastbound auxiliary lane on I-94 from I-94/I-494/I-694 in Oakdale to Hwy. 19 in Woodbury. Cost: $107,905,000

• Bridges on I-494 between Eagan and Bloomington - April 2023-2024: Repair five bridges between Pilot Knob Rd. in Eagan and 24th Ave. in Bloomington. Replace lighting, resurface pavement, reconstruct pedestrian trail and drainage. Cost: $60,925,000

• Hwy. 52 from Hampton Township to Rosemount - May 2023-2024: Resurface, repair two bridges and add cable median guardrail. Cost: $56,916,000

• Bridge replacement on Hwy. 169 in New Hope and Plymouth - April 2023-Nov. 2023: Interchange reconstructed, repavement and addition of signals and trails. Cost: $18,789,000

• I-35W from Minnesota River bridge in Bloomington - May 2023-Oct. 2023: Resurface bridge to 0.1 mile south of W. 82nd St., addition of acceleration lanes. Cost: $12,781,000

• Hwy. 5 to Hwy. 120 from St. Paul to Maplewood - July 2023-2024: Resurface the highway from 0.3 miles east of Mendota St. in St. Paul to Hwy 120 in Maplewood. Addition of pedestrian accessibility, replacement of traffic signals, and build stormwater ponds. Cost: $10,935,000

• Ramps on Hwy. 36 at County Road 48 interchange in Roseville - June 2023-Aug. 2023: Reconstruction of the ramps, resurface, and drainage. Cost: $4,928,000

New Greater Minnesota road projects

• I-90 from Blue Earth to south of Wells (Southern MN)- April 2023-2024: Resurfacing of 20 miles of highway and repair of six bridges. Cost: $45 million

• Hwy. 10/Hwy. 23 interchange in St. Cloud (Central MN) - April 2023-2024: Rebuild Hwy. 23 bridges over Hwy. 10, reconstruct interchange area. Cost: $23,000,000

• Hwy. 169 from Aitkin to Hassman (Northern MN) - Feb. 2023-2024: Reconstruction of the highway that includes widened shoulders for 11 miles of road from the Ripple River in Aitkin to the Mississippi River in Hassman. Cost: $32,810,000

• Hwy. 212 in Sacred Heart (SW MN) - April 2023-Nov. 2023: Aside from reconstruction, the highway will also be resurfaced from 2 miles east of Hwy. 23 to Renville County Road 6. Cost: $25,462,000

• I-35 from Rice to Faribault (SE MN) - May 2023-2024: Resurface highway from County Road 48 to north of junction with Hwy. 21 at Faribault. Cost: $20,241,000

• Hwy. 25 bridge in Brainerd (Northern MN) - May 2023-Nov. 2023: The bridge is being replaced, also including the pedestrian multi-use trail. Cost: $6,370,000

• Hwy. 61 from Lake City to Red Wing (SE MN) - April 2023-Oct. 2023: Entire stretch of highway from north of Lake City to Red Wing resurfaced. Cost: $12,135,000

• Hwy. 32 near Middle River (NW MN) - July 2023-Oct. 2023: Resurfacing between Middle River and Greenbush, and replacing four box culverts. Cost: $13.6 million

• Hwy. 59 near Thief River Falls (NW MN) - March 2023-Sept. 2023: Resurfacing the highway between Pennington County Road 53 and Thief River Falls. Addition of a roundabout, shoulder widening,and culvert replacements. Cost: $8,680,000

Transit, rail, port and airport projects

• Crookston - Feb. 2023-Dec. 2024: Construction of a bus storage facility. Cost: $2.6 million

• Karlstad - Jan. 2023-Nov. 2023: Design and construction of airport. Cost: $5.6 million

• St. Cloud - June 2023-June 2025: Construction of Western Transit station. Cost: $4 million

Numerous locations - Summer 2023: Construction of new signal systems, gates, flashing lights, and warning systems at rail crossings. Twin Cities locations include Chanhassen, Bloomington and Northfield.

For a full list of construction plans, visit MnDOT's website.

SOURCE: Bring Me The News