Road construction season's here: MnDOT unveils $1.1 billion in 2014 projects
Minnesota's orange cone season is nearly upon us.
State transportation officials on Thursday unveiled 308 road construction projects they'll take on during 2014, from bridge replacements on Highway 100 in St. Louis Park to street reconstruction in downtown Alexandria.
The $1.1 billion program includes 74 projects in the Twin Cities and 194 projects in Greater Minnesota. Another 40 projects statewide will improve safety at railroad crossings, runways and terminals at regional airports, MnDOT said. The $1.1 billion is about what the state budgeted for 2013.
The 2014 building plan will bring "vital upgrades to our transportation system," MnDOT Commissioner Charlie Zelle said in a statement.
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Here's MnDOT's list of the biggest projects.
Twin Cities
• Interstate 35E between Interstate 94 in St. Paul and Little Canada Road, construction of MnPASS Express Lanes, replace pavement and bridges and improve traffic management technology
• Highway 65 from Fridley to Spring Lake Park, replace pavement and make safety improvements to the highway and bus stops
• Highway 100 bridge replacements and highway widening from 36th Street to St. Louis Park
Greater Minnesota
• Highway 29 complete streets reconstruction in downtown Alexandria
• Highway 34 construct passing lanes from Detroit Lakes to Nevis
• I-94 additional lane construction from Highway 101 to Highway 241
• I-35 in Owatonna reconstruction and bridge replacement
Here are links to the construction maps: