Safety Improvements On Tap In Minnesota Highway Plan

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One of the priorities of Minnesota’s highway plan for the next two decades calls for investing in safety-related road improvements.

The Department of Transportation recently wrapped up a 20-year state highway investment plan, according to the West Central Tribune.

The plan also calls for new connections for multimodal transportation and other projects that foster economic development, along with shoring up the existing infrastructure over the next 10 years.

The second 10 years focuses almost exclusively on preserving and maintaining existing roads and bridges.

The plan identifies $30 billion worth of transportation needs over the next 20 years but officials only anticipate $18 billion in revenue, leaving many projects unfunded.

Among the regional projects that made the list for the first 10 years are improvements to Highway 7 east of Montevideo; U.S. Highway 212 east and west of Granite Falls; several portions of U.S. Highway 12, including stretches from Litchfield to Willmar to Pennock; Highway 24 north of Litchfield; and U.S. 71 north of Willmar.

Even with a focus on preserving the existing infrastructure, the number of roads and bridges in poor condition is expected to double within the next 20 years, state transportation officials said.

The priorities in the 20-year plan “illustrate the increasing constraints on highway planning in Minnesota,” said state Transportation Commissioner Charlie Zelle.

The plan was developed through meetings with the public and a steering committee of city and county stakeholders.