Minnesota beef check-off price increase proposed

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Beef Research and Promotion Council (MBRPC) is proposing a voluntary beef check-off price increase of $1.00 per head.  It’s been more than a decade since the last referendum request to garner more funds to support the council’s efforts to increase value for beef producers.  The current $1.00 per head check-off is split evenly between state and national beef promotion councils.  The proposed increase would remain in the state for Minnesota promotion efforts.

Cattle owners selling their livestock in Minnesota would be eligible to receive a refund of the automatic $1.00 per head increase if the referendum passes and they request it after the sale of their cattle.  The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is holding information hearings across the state on December 5, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. via videoconference.  Here, producers will have a chance to review the proposal and share their feedback before the February, 2014 mail ballot election.

If you’d like a ballot you can request it from the MDA’s website, you can also request a ballot from the MBRPC.  The videoconference will be held at the following locations:

Willmar: MN Dept. of Human Services 2200 23rd Street NE Willmar, MN 56201	Brainerd: Central Lakes College, Room C224 501 College Drive W Brainerd, MN 56401	Rochester: Olmsted County EMD 1421 3rd Ave S, Basement Room Rochester, MN 55904
Detroit Lakes: Becker County Human Services 712 Minnesota Avenue Detroit Lakes, MN 56502	Marshall: Southwest HHS, Suite 100 607 W Main Street Marshall, MN 56258	Red Lake Falls: MN Wheat RPC 2600 Wheat Drive Red Lake Falls, MN 56750
Mankato: MN Dept. of Health Mankato Place 12 Civic Center Plaza, Suite 2105 Mankato, MN 56001	St. Paul: MN Dept. of Agriculture 625 Robert Street N St. Paul, MN 55155

DNR reminder: ice is not safe right now

The Department of Natural Resources said the thin layers of ice that are forming on Minnesota waters right now are not safe. This reminder comes after a DNR conservation officer helped rescue a man Nov. 15 who was fishing and fell through the ice on Little Rock Lake in Benton County.

“The bottom line is it's crucial that people do not let their guard down,” said Kara Owens, DNR boat and water safety specialist, “because ice is never 100 percent safe. A few days of cold temperatures don’t create ice strong enough to hold a person.”

According to Owens, six people died last winter after falling through the ice.

The DNR recommends anyone heading out on the ice should: carry a set of ice picks, check with a local bait shop or resort— ask about ice conditions— and measure the ice.

DNR clear ice thickness recommendations are:

• 4 inches for walking.
• 5 inches for a snowmobile or ATV.
• 8-12 inches for a car.
• 12-15 inches for a medium-sized truck.

For more information, visit www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/ice/thickness.html.

Project to repair landslide along Highway 2 in Crookston set to begin next summer

BEMIDJI, Minn. – A project to stabilize the landslide area near Highway 2 (West Sixth Street) in Crookston is slated to begin in the summer of 2014. The project area is located between Groveland Avenue and Pine Street.

“The slide is the result of a slope failure near the highway that’s caused by the nearby Red Lake River,” said Jim Bittmann, project manager. “It has not currently affected the safety of the road surface, but it has the potential to in the future.”

The Minnesota Department of Transportation is using the design-build process for this project. “A benefit with using the design-build method is that it streamlines the process,” explained Bittmann. “It allows the project to start much sooner than with design-bid-build method by bringing designers and contractors together earlier in the process.”

Design-build also allows for more flexibility and the opportunity to reduce overall costs. Five consultants are currently working to design their own fix within the parameters that MnDOT has defined for project success. The department will then select the consultant that provides the best overall value.

“By using consultants to help design the project they ultimately will construct, it allows for more efficiency throughout the process and possibly a solution that our engineers may not have thought of,” said Bittmann.

Details on this design-build project on Highway 2 in Crookston can be found at http://www.dot.state.mn.us/designbuild/hwy2crookston/index.html.

For information on the design-build process visit http://www.dot.state.mn.us/designbuild/.

Minnesota income tax brackets for 2014

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Every year, the Minnesota Department of Revenue is required by law to adjust individual income tax brackets for inflation. For tax year 2014, the state’s individual income tax brackets will change by 1.696 percent from tax year 2013. Indexing for inflation of individual income tax brackets first began in 1979 and has continued every year since, except in 1989 and 1990.

 This annual adjustment will prevent taxpayers from paying higher taxes solely because of inflationary changes in their income. The adjustment does not change the Minnesota tax rates that apply to each income bracket.

                                                                                               
The bracket adjustments are based on the change in the U.S. Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers for the average of the 12 months ending August 2013 compared to the average of the twelve months ending August 2012. The department adjusts the brackets each year by the inflation factor and rounds the result to the nearest $10.

The brackets apply to tax year 2014. Taxpayers who make quarterly payments of estimated tax should use the following rate schedule to determine their payments, which are due starting in April 2014.   

2014 Minnesota Income Tax Brackets Adjusted for Inflation

 

      Marginal Tax Rates                5.35%                           7.05%                         7.85%                                    9.85% 

      Married, Filing Jointly            $0—$36,080          $36,081—$143,350    $143,351—$254,240   $254,241 and over 

      Married, Filing Separately    $0—$18,040          $18,041—$71,680       $ 71,681—$127,120 ­   $127,121 and over 

      Head of Household                $0—$30,390          $30,391—$122,110    $122,111—$203,390   $203,391 and over 

      Single                                        $0—$24,680          $24,681—$81,080       $ 81,081—$152,540    $152,541 and over

The marginal tax rate is the rate of tax paid on a particular range of incomes.

Governor Dayton, MnDOT Announce 10 ‘Corridors of Commerce’ Projects

BEMIDJI, Minn. – ST. PAUL, MN – Governor Mark Dayton and the Minnesota Department of Transportation announced today that ten highway construction projects will receive funding through the state’s new $300 million Corridors of Commerce program. The projects will strengthen Minnesota’s transportation system by adding capacity and improving the movement of freight across the state.

“These projects will reduce travel times and improve safety for Minnesota citizens, and help our businesses transport their products more efficiently,” said Governor Dayton. “The number of projects from all over our state, which sought financing from this program, underscores the acute need for more transportation funding.”

Transportation improvements include the addition of lanes, bypasses and shoulders to essential travel corridors in the state, including Interstate 94 between Rogers and St. Michael, Highway 14 in southern Minnesota, and Highway 34 between Detroit Lakes and Nevis. The bonding authority is effective July 1, 2014, with five projects scheduled to start in 2014, three in 2015 and two in 2016.

The selected projects were among more than 400 proposals representing more than 100 unique projects that MnDOT received earlier this fall from public sector partners, stakeholders and interested citizens across the state. Agency staff evaluated eligible projects on selection criteria that included project readiness and deliverability, community support, projected return on investment, and safety impacts.

“These projects represent a great first step for the Corridors of Commerce program,” said MnDOT Commissioner Charlie Zelle. “These critical improvements demonstrate our commitment to providing a commerce friendly network of freight corridors to ship goods and provide safety and mobility to all users.”

Enacted during the 2013 legislative session, the Corridors of Commerce program authorizes trunk highway bonding to be used for projects that are not already in the state’s four-year State Transportation Improvement Program. The legislation established two major goals for the program: to increase highway capacity on segments where bottlenecks occur and to improve the movement of freight and reduce barriers to commerce.

The selected projects are:

Route	Project	Preliminary Cost Estimate (millions)	Estimated Construction Start	Project Category
Hwy 2	Passing lanes from Cass Lake to Deer River	$8-$10	2014	Freight Improvement
I-94	Lanes from MN 101 to MN 241	$35-$46	2014	IRC Capacity Development
Hwy 34	Passing lanes from Detroit Lakes to Nevis	$11-$15	2014	Freight Improvement
Hwy 14	4‐lane Owatonna to Dodge Center	$16-$20	2014	IRC Capacity Development
Hwy 610	Freeway from CSAH 81 to I‐94	$103-$131	2014	Metro Capacity Development
Hwy 14	4‐lane N. Mankato to Nicollet	$20-$28	2015	IRC Capacity Development
Hwy 14	Nicollet Bypass (4 lane)	$15-$25	2015	IRC Capacity Development
I-694	Dynamic shoulder lane from Rice to Lexington	$35-$42	2015	Metro Capacity Development
Hwy 169	4‐lane from CSAH 15 to 1 mile east of CSAH 7	$14-$20	2016	Freight Improvement
Hwy 23	Passing lanes from Willmar to I‐90	$13-$19	2016	Freight Improvement

 

“There were many good project proposals submitted, indicative of the need and desire to improve Minnesota’s transportation network,” Zelle said. “Unfortunately, we have more projects than money to go around. I’ve been travelling around the state this fall to draw attention to the need for a long-term stable funding source for transportation. My hope is that state and local governments, stakeholders and user groups will join together to address this problem today, to keep our state competitive tomorrow.”

More information about the Corridors of Commerce program can be found at www.mndot.gov/corridorsofcommerce/.

Department of Commerce secures $98.7 million in funding for the Energy Assistance Program

SAINT PAUL, MN – The Minnesota Department of Commerce announced today that Minnesota will receive $98,726,312 in federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds for Minnesota’s Energy Assistance Program (EAP). LIHEAP helps low-income homeowners and renters pay heating bills through grant money paid directly to utility companies and heating fuel vendors on behalf of customers.

“Year after year, the LIHEAP program has helped keep Minnesotans who struggle to pay for home heating stay warm throughout the winter,” said Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman.  “These important federal funds keep thousands of homes from losing heat and protect our neighbors from being out in the cold.

The Minnesota Department of Commerce administers the LIHEAP in partnership with 32 local service providers throughout the state. LIHEAP is federally funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The program helps renters and homeowners earning less than 50 percent of the state’s median income ($43,642 for a family of four) obtain grant money to help pay their heating bills.

“Energy bills during long winters with subzero temperatures can take a large bite out of household budgets and  have left many Minnesotans stretching every dollar and struggling to make ends meet,” said Commissioner Rothman. “We encourage all Minnesotans who may have difficulty paying their heating bills to apply for LIHEAP assistance. Households that include children under the age of six, people with disabilities, veterans and seniors are especially encouraged to apply.”

Last year, Minnesota served 147,636 households and renters with $109.6 million in federal funds. The average household income of those receiving LIHEAP funds was $16,422. Approximately 73% of the homes included at least one senior, person with a disability, or a child under the age of 18. This year, the average grant per household will be $500.

Qualifying families must apply for assistance at the local service provider in their area. Funding is limited and is administered on a first-come, first-served basis. Interested households should contact their local service provider by calling 1-800-657-3710 or visiting the Energy Assistance section of the Commerce Department’s website (http://mn.gov/commerce/energy). The Minnesota EAP is supported by federal LIHEAP funding and administered by the Minnesota Department of Commerce.

Spring camping reservations reopen at McCarthy Beach State Park

Spring 2014 camping reservations at McCarthy Beach State Park, near Hibbing, will reopen for booking at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 21. People interested in camping reservations for Memorial Day weekend and other spring dates can make those reservations at that time.

Camping or lodging reservations can be made up to a year in advance by visiting www.mndnr.gov/reservations or by calling toll-free, 866-857-2757, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.

Spring camping reservations at the park were previously put on hold to allow for the completion of a new shower and sanitation building. Construction of the building has been postponed from fall 2013 until late summer 2014.

When complete, the new energy-efficient building will offer expanded restroom areas with ADA-compliant showers and toilet stalls, and two family restrooms to better accommodate families with young children and visitors with disabilities.

“We were looking forward to having a modern, fully accessible sanitation building ready for our campground guests next summer, but unfortunately, the project was delayed,” said Park Manager Jenny Eastvold. “The new mid-August start date minimizes the number of campers with existing reservations who will be impacted, while giving the contractor a few extra weeks of good construction weather.”

As a safety measure, the campground will be closed at the beginning of the construction to accommodate large trucks hauling demolition debris and construction materials on the park’s narrow campground roads. The campground closure is expected to last into September or October of 2014.

McCarthy Beach State Park is open year-round for day use, and the campground is open seasonally from April to November, as snow conditions permit. Winter camping is no longer available at the park.

The park is a designated weekend skiing destination, which means trails may not be groomed immediately after a snowfall but will be ready for the following weekend whenever possible. Other winter recreation opportunities include snowshoeing on the unplowed campground roads, ice fishing and snowmobiling on the Taconite State Trail, which runs through the park.

For more information, including directions and a virtual tour, go to www.mndnr.gov (www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/mccarthy_beach).

Some lands considered baited and off limits to waterfowl hunters

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds waterfowl hunters that some fields are considered baited and off limits to waterfowl hunting. 

Due to the wet and cold spring, some farmers were not able to plant a normal crop for harvest. Instead they worked with their insurance companies or the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Conservation Service office to plant a cover crop. 

“These cover crops were never intended for harvest and are now being disced, tilled or plowed. The food sources such as oats, which were a common cover crop, are now an attractive food source for ducks and geese,” said Lt. Dean Olson, DNR enforcement district supervisor in Rochester. Olson noted these fields are considered baited and off limits to waterfowl hunting.

Federal regulations define a baited area “as any area on which salt, grain, or other feed has been placed, exposed, deposited, distributed, or scattered, if that salt, grain, or other feed could serve as a lure or attraction for migratory game birds to, on, or over areas where hunters are attempting to take them.”

“Any such area will remain a baited area for 10 days following the complete removal of all such salt, grain or other feed,” Olson said. 

Hunters are encouraged to talk with the farmers about fields prior to hunting to assure none of them were planted as a cover crop.

Find more information on waterfowl hunting on agricultural lands at: www.fws.gov/le/waterfowl-hunting-and-baiting.html.

Commercial Drivers Required to Certify by January 2014

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Some Minnesota commercial licensed drivers, including school bus, semi-tractor trailer and garbage truck drivers could lose their commercial driving privileges by the end of January if they don’t take action to comply with federal and state regulations.

Approximately 115,000 (46 percent) of Minnesota’s 250,000 Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) holders have not provided self-certification of their commercial driving status and,  in some cases, proper medical documentation. 

Non-exempt interstate and intrastate drivers must provide a current medical examiner’s certification along with any waivers required to maintain commercial driver status. Exempt interstate and intrastate drivers do not need to provide a medical examiner’s certificate but do need to complete a self-certification form. The deadline to provide all documentation is Jan. 30, 2014.

Commercial driver heart attacks or other physical impairments lead to 3,000 crashes nationally each year and many result in fatalities or serious injuries, according to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration estimates.

CDL holders not in compliance on Jan. 30, 2014, will be downgraded to a Class D license, leaving most drivers unable to legally engage in inter- or intrastate commercial driving.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services Division (DVS) is in the process of sending letters to all CDL holders in Minnesota reminding them to complete their self-certification.

How to Self-Certify

CDL holders need to:

·        Check the status of the driver’s license online at http://bit.ly/d3r8zL. If “Self-cert” is not listed, then a Self-Certification form must be submitted.

·        Complete the Commercial Driver License Medical Self-Certification Form (PS33203)

·        If a CDL driver certifies that they are subject to medical examination requirements, they must provide a copy of their Medical Examination Report (PS30158) and any required waiver (Insulin-treated diabetes, vision, seizure/loss of consciousness, limb impairment).

·        Submit a completed self-certification form and, if applicable, a current medical examiner’s certificate, to DVS via mail, fax or in person to any driver exam station or driver license office.

These forms can be found on the DVS Website at dvs.dps.mn.gov.

Visit the DVS Website at dvs.dps.mn.gov for more information on how to self-certify, for definitions of interstate and intrastate commerce, along with information about medical certification requirements. CDL drivers can also call (651) 205-4908.

Categories and medical examiner’s certificate requirements are determined by the Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) and state statute.

About the Minnesota Department of Public Safety
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) comprises 11 divisions where 2,100 employees operate programs in the areas of law enforcement, crime victim assistance, traffic safety, alcohol and gambling, emergency communications, fire safety, pipeline safety, driver licensing, vehicle registration and emergency management. DPS activity is anchored by three core principles: education, enforcement and prevention.

About Driver and Vehicle Services
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services division (DVS) is responsible for driver testing, driver licensing and maintenance of driver records; driver evaluation and compliance; motor vehicle title and registration; commercial vehicle registration; motor vehicle dealer licensing and regulation; and enforcement of no-fault insurance requirements.

DVS has initiated the Minnesota Licensing and Registration System (MNLARS) project to design, build and implement a new information technology (IT) system. MNLARS will replace the 30-year old mainframe, which houses DVS motor vehicle and driver licensing information, with a more secure modern, responsive and reliable system.

Driver and Vehicle Services Highlights

·        Annually, DVS conducts more than 500,000 written and road tests, and issues about 3.8 million licenses. It also registers 4.3 million vehicles and issues about 1.3 million titles.

·        The DVS Public Information Center handles about 1.2 million calls each year.

·        Web-based services include driver’s license status check, registration renewal (tabs) and test scheduling.

Illegal deer baiting on the rise; penalties stressed

As the number of citations issued for deer baiting has reached an all-time high, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds Minnesota deer hunters to review regulations before heading to the field this fall.

Changes in the regulations last year affect penalties for deer baiting, which continues to plague the sport. “We’re seeing increased numbers of convictions for deer baiting while at the same time the penalties have increased,” said Col. Ken Soring, DNR enforcement director.

Deer baiting is placing food near deer stands or clearings with the intent of luring a deer into close shooting range. It has been illegal to bait deer in Minnesota since 1991.

DNR conservation officers issued 166 citations and 49 warnings while confiscating 135 firearms and bows during the 2012 bow, firearms and muzzleloader big game seasons. It’s the highest number of baiting citations and confiscations issued during the deer hunting seasons since the DNR began tracking these violations in 1991.

“It was apparent that a fine and forfeiture of a firearm or bow was not enough to curtail the activity,” Soring said. “In order to show the seriousness of the offense, hunters are also subject to license revocation when convicted of baiting deer.”

The penalties for baiting include:

A person may not obtain any deer license or take deer under a lifetime license 1 year after the person is convicted of hunting deer with the aid or use of bait. The DNR’s Electronic Licensing System (ELS) will also block a person’s ability to buy a license. A second conviction within 3 years would result in a 3-year revocation.

The revocation period doubles if the conviction is for a deer that is a trophy deer scoring higher than 170 inches.

Soring reminds hunters it is illegal to take deer with the aid or use of bait and encourages hunters to direct their efforts towards traditional and ethical hunting techniques like scouting for the best hunting locations. Enjoy a safe hunt that includes fair chase as a part of a proud hunting heritage in Minnesota.

Bait includes grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, hay, or other food capable of attracting or enticing deer and has been placed by an individual.

Liquid scents (example: doe in heat), sprays, salts, and mineral are not bait if they do not contain liquid or solid food products.

“Read the ingredient label on all products prior to use since many products contain food or attractants such as grains, fruits, and sugar derivatives,” Soring said. He added if a salt or mineral product has anything other than salt or mineral in it, it is illegal to use for hunting.

“There are still people who think that just because they can buy an attractant off the shelf, then it must be legal in the state. It is not. Read the label carefully before making your purchase,” Soring said.

Veterans Day Inspires Reminder of the Minnesota Military Tax Credit

St. Paul, Minn. - As Veterans Day nears, the Minnesota Department of Revenue reminds members of the military that they may be eligible for hundreds of dollars in military related tax benefits.  

“Veterans Day is not only a reminder to all Minnesotans of the sacrifices made by the men and women of our armed forces, but it is also a reminder to us here at the Minnesota Department of Revenue that we need to remain diligent in our efforts to bring awareness to the military credits and refunds available to service members,” said Revenue Commissioner Myron Frans. “The department takes pride in our efforts to reach out to service members and we work closely with veterans groups to make sure our soldiers are getting every penny they are entitled to.”

The Credit for Military Service in a Combat Zone is available to members of the military who have recently served in a designated combat zone or hazardous duty area. There is a credit of $120 for each month served.

To claim the credit, members of the military should complete and file Form M99, Credit for Military Service in a Combat Zone, for the year(s) in which they served. The department will accept the combat zone service performed in 2013 Form M99 beginning in January 2014. The Form M99 is filed separately from Form M1, Minnesota Individual Income Tax Return.

Service members are eligible to receive a credit for military time served in a combat zone if they meet all of the following requirements:

They served in a combat zone or qualified hazardous duty area anytime on or after January 1, 2010

The pay they received qualifies to be excluded as combat pay from federal gross income under Internal Revenue Code Section 112

Their home of record during months of service was Minnesota

More than 3,100 service members have filed their 2012 M99 military credit, totaling $1.6 million in claims, for an average credit of $609 per claim.

Starting Jan. 1, 2013, honorably discharged veterans who receive a pension or other retirement pay for their service in the military may be eligible for a nonrefundable tax credit of up to $750 even if they did not serve 20 years in the military. Service members may qualify for the credit if they meet one or more of the following requirements:

They served in the military for at least 20 years

They have a service-related disability rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs as being 100 percent total and permanent

They were honorably discharged and receive a military pension or other retirement pay for their service in the military

Income qualifications do apply. For more information click here or search ‘Military Tax Credit” on our website.

Each year, thousands of Minnesota service members do not take advantage of the credits that are available to them and their families. For more information about military tax credits available, required documentation, forms and instructions, visit www.revenue.state.mn.us, call 651-556-4710, or email Military.Tax@state.mn.us.

MN Road Construction Season Winds Down

ST. PAUL, Minn. – 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-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)

 ·         Highway 10/Highway 75 Moorhead improvement project – Work is complete on the construction project that included pedestrian accessibility ramps, signal upgrades, a fiber-optic network and the resurfacing of a four block stretch of Highway 10. The project also included the installation of a pedestrian-activated HAWK signal on Highway 75/Eighth Street near Concordia College. Work ran from May to September. (Construction cost: $4.8 million)

·         Highway 78 resurfacing and Battle Lake reconstruction – Work on Highway 78 between Battle Lake and Perham is nearly complete. Crews are resurfacing 26 miles Highway 78 and reconstructing a section of the roadway in downtown Battle Lake. The Battle Lake portion of the project includes utility upgrades and pedestrian and bicycle improvements. (Construction cost: $6.5 million)

·         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)

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)

·         St. Croix Crossing connecting Oak Park Heights, Minn., and St. Joseph, Wis. –Construction on both the Minnesota approach work and bridge foundations work began in spring 2013. The bridge foundations work includes everything below the river surface and will be complete in early 2014. (Construction cost estimates: $580-$676 million)

Projects in southern Minnesota include:

·         Highway 52 Cannon Falls Interchange – The two-year project began this year and is scheduled to be complete at the end of 2014. This project includes building an interchange in Cannon Falls and removing the final two traffic signals on Highway 52 between Rochester and the Twin Cities. (Construction cost: $14.3 million)

 ·         Highway 60 in Worthington – This is the last of three years of major improvements to Highway 60 in the Worthington area, including realignment of the highway, a new Union Pacific Railroad bridge and roundabouts at key intersections. Landscaping is scheduled for 2014. (Construction cost: $45 million)

·         Highway 15 in Hutchinson and Brownton – Several improvement projects in McLeod County were completed this year, including construction of a new roundabout in Hutchinson. Additional improvements include a new water main and sanitary sewer, resurfacing of Highway 15 in Hutchinson, bypass lane construction on Highway 15 in Brownton, street light installations, and pedestrian enhancements. (Construction cost: $5.2 million)

For a complete list of 2013 projects and their status, see www.mndot.gov/roadwork/current.html; and for studies and plans for possible future projects, visit www.mndot.gov/roadwork/future.html.

 

For Minnesota statewide travel information, visit www.511mn.org, call 5-1-1 or log on to www.mndot.gov.