Prioritizing local roads and bridges
Roads and bridges have long been one of my top priorities, and since Republicans have had the majority we have delivered impressive results. With the largest investment in roads and bridges since 2008, Senate Republicans paid for the repair and replacement of thousands of lane miles and bridges across Minnesota. Over the last four years, our comprehensive transportation budget infused our transportation system with $600 million in new, ongoing funding, and an additional $300 million in one-time transportation funding from bonding.
This includes significant funding for local roads and bridges as well. In this year’s bonding bill alone, we approved $5 million for township road improvement grants, as well as $3 million for safe routes to school infrastructure improvements, and $84 million for state road construction. We also added additional road and bridge funding for small communities, especially in Greater Minnesota – namely, $30 million for local bridge replacement and rehabilitation and $70 million for local road improvements.
The bonding bill also contained funding to expand I-94 through Monticello. Everyone who has had to travel any part of 94 to and from the cities knows how frustrating the congestion is. We’ve made a lot of progress in recent years, having already expanded 94 through Rogers and Albertville. This next stretch will provide even more stress relief for commuters and travelers.
But the biggest project in our area is Highway 169 through Elk River, which will be converted to a free-flowing freeway with construction set to begin in 2022. A few years ago we were able to secure funding for the new highway via Minnesota’s innovative Corridors of Commerce Program, and I’m pleased to report the project is right on schedule. The plan calls for the redesign and reconstruction of Highway 169 to convert it to a new freeway system through Elk River between Highway 101/Highway 10 and 197th Avenue just past Menards on the northern end of the city.
Highway 169 is a critical corridor, driven by thousands upon thousands of Minnesotans for work or as they head to their cabins to go fishing or hunting. But trying to get through Elk River, especially during rush hour, is enough to drive most drivers mad — almost everyone who travels that stretch of road has had some version of the following conversation at one time or another: “Let’s head out early so we can get through Elk River before it gets bad,” or “Let’s take back roads so we can avoid 169.”
Once this redesign is completed those conversations will be a relic of the past.
Strong, reliable roads and bridges are one of the core expectations of government. I am proud of what we have been able to accomplish over the last few years, and I will continue to make these infrastructure improvements a priority so you can have safe, stress-free commutes.