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ST PAUL, Minn.-The Minnesota Department of Transportation recently announced a nearly $900 million transportation construction program for 2011 that will increase safety, improve mobility, expand capacity and preserve infrastructure statewide.

"Minnesota's transportation system is a vital part of the state's infrastructure and is essential for a strong and vibrant state economy," said Governor Mark Dayton. "These projects will support thousands of jobs in Minnesota, from the construction workers directly working on the projects to others who work in the support industries for construction."

This year's 258 state highway construction projects include the Highway 169/Interstate 494 interchange in the Twin Cities and the second year of the bridge and pavement replacement on a section of I-35 in Duluth. Other projects improve safety at railroad crossings, repair seawalls and docks, make improvements on runways and terminals at regional airports, and remodel a transit facility.[[In-content Ad]]

"Mn/DOT is focused on improving our roads and bridges and maximizing the capacity of our multimodal transportation system to give the traveling public more options and improve Minnesotans' quality of life," said Tom Sorel, Mn/DOT Commissioner.

Projects in central Minnesota include:

•Constructing four lanes on Highway 23 east of St. Cloud to Foley.

•Resurfacing Highway 10 from east of Little Falls to Randall.

•Resurfacing Highway 371 from Baxter to Nisswa.

•Intersection improvements at Highway 25 and Sherburne County Roads 11/14/17.

• Resurfacing Highway 107 from Braham to Brook Park.

• Resurfacing bridge deck on highway 169 overpass in Elk River.

• Resurfacing I-94 from Albany to Collegeville.

For a more detailed list of projects in central Minnesota, visit http://www.dot.state.mn.us/d3/s/11/2011construction.pdf

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