Friends and neighbors —

A couple of weeks ago, I dedicated a portion of my column to the dangerous 10-mile stretch of Interstate 35 road construction that has claimed several lives and hospitalized even more since mid-summer. These crashes could largely be avoided if we remain vigilant against distracted driving, and do our best to keep a sharp focus when traveling through that area. But it’s not the only answer.

The great news is that MnDOT officials took action to address the concerns that many of us had raised about that stretch of road construction.

For starters, you may have noticed that MnDOT has put up big digital signboards instead of the smaller static road signs, as well as temporary rumble strips to alert drivers to slow down and be extra careful where the lanes merge. They’re also working with law enforcement to add more police in the area to improve safety.

It is great to see MnDOT responding quickly to this urgent problem. The new warning signs and rumble strips should prevent more accidents by getting drivers’ attention and reminding them to take their foot off the gas.

Improving driver safety was my goal in writing about the hazards in this work zone, so I appreciate MnDOT officials taking our worries seriously and making these changes. And thanks to all who contacted my office demanding solutions – your speaking up makes a difference.

Remember: As drivers, we need to do our part too. Please slow down, avoid distractions, and merge carefully, and hopefully we won’t have any more serious crashes for the duration of the work. Let’s do everything we can to make I-35 safer for everyone.

John