Fed money helps road work

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ST. PAUL – In the next few days, Minnesotans will see federal economic stimulus funds in the form of orange barrels.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation has scheduled the start of many federally funded highway projects in the next week.

“MnDOT identified more than 60 projects and requested bids on enough to meet the federal requirements in about half the time required,” Transportation Commissioner Tom Sorel said. “Minnesota is one of the first states to reach that obligation threshold, which makes us eligible for potentially more funding.”

About half of the $502 million in federal stimulus funding has been obligated, Sorel said.

The first federally funded project already started. Crews are applying anti-skid treatments in U.S. 61 tunnels near Two Harbors.

Other projects due to start soon include a U.S. 10 overlay project between Staples and Wadena and a Minnesota 7 overlay between Montevideo and Clara City.

The federal stimulus projects are in addition to regular summer construction work.

“This is one of the largest construction years in the state’s history,” Sorel said. “All of us who are traveling on state roadways need to approach work zones with caution and be patient."

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