ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of
Transportation is looking for individuals and organizations to join the more
than 4,100 groups and 16,000 people in the state who are Adopt a Highway
volunteers.
The program, which realized an estimated $6 million
benefit in 2017, is a public service project that helps reduce litter along the
roadsides. It’s been part of MnDOT’s maintenance operations since 1990.
“Volunteers pick up litter, keep the roadways beautiful
and save taxpayers money,” said Ann McLellan, statewide Adopt a Highway
manager. “When our volunteers are out cleaning the roadway ditches, MnDOT crews
use their time to build and maintain our highways. It’s a win-win for all and
it shows that Minnesotans care about their state.”
There are 5,455 segments of roadways defined for the
program. Of those segments, 1,719 are available for adoption.
“Most of the available segments are in Greater Minnesota.
In the Twin Cities area, there are nine segments available,” said McLellan.
The volunteers, representing schools, businesses,
faith-based organizations, families and individuals, clean up nearly 10,000
miles of Minnesota roadways each year.
Last year volunteer groups, ranging from four to 25
people, spent an estimated 239,000 hours picking up 36,658 bags of litter.
That’s more than 112,000 pounds of litter.
Individuals and groups who want to volunteer should go to
www.mndot.gov/adopt/
to find their local area program coordinator. MnDOT provides safety training,
trash bags and safety vests, and picks up the filled bags that volunteers leave
at the side of the road. MnDOT also posts signs along the adopted segments of
roads with the names of the volunteer groups.
Volunteers are asked to commit to the program for at
least two years and pick up litter on both sides of the roadway at least twice
a year. The average length of an adopted roadway is two to three miles,
although some roads are longer.
