MnDOT Completes 5 Major Construction Projects In Twin Cities

TWIN CITIES, MN — The Minnesota Department of Transportation advanced or completed 261 road and bridge projects during the 2021 construction season, including five major ones in the Twin Cities metro area.

"This year’s construction program delivered new bridges and smoother roads, and improved designs to create better connections and mobility for people walking and biking. Several projects also addressed aging infrastructure to help rejuvenate main streets in communities across Minnesota," said MnDOT Commissioner Margaret Anderson Kelliher in a news release.

"The projects completed this year will help us achieve our long-term vision of a safer and more sustainable and equitable transportation system that serves all Minnesotans."

Below are the Twin Cities projects that MnDOT completed this year and a summary from the department about the work that was done:

I-35W Minnesota River Bridge in Burnsville, Bloomington

Completed multiyear project to replace the I-35W Bridge over the Minnesota River, replace pavement and add a new trail.

I-35W Roseville and Blaine

Completed third and final year on I-35W North that included resurfacing I-35W and ramps, constructing an E-ZPass Express Lane in each direction, reconstructing eight bridges and installing seven noise walls.

I-35W@94 Minneapolis

Completed four-year project on I-35W in Minneapolis that included rebuilding ramp from I-35W North to I-94 West, adding E-ZPass Lanes, constructing Orange Line Bus Rapid Transit Station and repairing bridges and pavement.

Highway 52 in St. Paul, West St. Paul and Inver Grove Heights

Completed resurfacing between I-494 and Concord Street, concrete repair between Concord Street and Plato Boulevard, and accessibility improvements.

Highway 12 safety improvements in west Twin Cities metro

Added new concrete median barrier between County Road 6 and Baker Park Road, and a roundabout at County Road 90 to improve safety.

Nearly completed

• I-94 Maple Grove to Albertville

Crews are nearing completion on work that includes concrete resurfacing, adding lanes between Highway 610 and Highway 101 and between St. Michael and Albertville, improving bridges and ramps, improving the Elm Creek Rest Area and building a new interchange at Dayton Parkway.

MnDOT said its second full construction season during the COVID-19 pandemic was successful. Despite additional safety protocols and "minor delays" due to the drought, MnDOT crews and contractors completed most projects on time and on budget, officials said.