Almanac: At the Capitol

A new bridge in St. Cloud and work on Hastings bridge, here's the release from MnDOT:

Date: April 10, 2008

To be released: Immediately

Mn/DOT kicks off 2008 construction season Highway 23 DeSoto Bridge project added to the line up, Hastings Bridge to follow in 2010

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- A new Highway 23 bridge in St. Cloud is among 135 new highway and bridge projects unveiled today by the Minnesota Department of Transportation as part of its annual construction kickoff. The projects, valued at $441 million, are being bolstered by $216 million in accelerated projects and other programs.

"We’re looking forward to another solid construction season,” said acting Transportation Commissioner Bob McFarlin. “This year’s projects follow-up on the three largest road construction seasons in the history of the state. In 2008 we will move forward on a number of road and bridge projects, increase maintenance on state roads, enhance transit and begin a new congestion relief project in the Twin Cities Metro area. Mn/DOT is poised to have a great summer of accomplishment with several major projects being completed and others beginning.”

The St. Cloud bridge, along with a resurfacing project on Interstate 90 in Mower and Olmsted counties and the “triangle” project on Highway 169 and County Road 81 in the northwest Metro, have been advanced to the 2008 construction season from 2015, 2009 and 2009, respectively. Twenty-eight additional highway and bridge projects valued at $549 million, including replacing the Highway 61 Bridge in Hastings, will be accelerated in 2009 and 2010.

"We have established a goal of getting the Hastings Bridge under contract by June 1, 2010. Achieving this objective will require significant cooperation from our local, state and federal partners. We are confident that cooperation will be forthcoming and the goal will be met," said McFarlin.

Highlights of the 2008 construction season include the completion of major projects originally advanced by the Pawlenty-Molnau bonding program in 2003. These include the Highway 10 realignment in Detroit Lakes, the Highway 34 reconstruction in Park Rapids, the I-694/I-35E Unweave the Weave reconstruction north of St. Paul and the new Highway 212 project in the southwest Metro. There are also some 20 additional carryover projects begun in previous years like the I-35W/Highway 62 Crosstown reconstruction in the Twin Cities.

"The volume of the work on our roads and bridges is an impressive contribution to the state economy. It underscores our determination to deliver results for Minnesota taxpayers," said McFarlin.

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2008 Minnesota Statewide Construction Season Highlights

Northern, North Central Minnesota
Work in the northern and central parts of the state includes:

● Highway 23 DeSoto Bridge in St. Cloud
● Highway 10 realignment in Detroit Lakes
● Highway 34 reconstruction in Park Rapids
● Highway 53 expansion north of Virginia to south of Cook
● Highway 197 reconstruction (3rd Street) in Bemidji
● Highway 12 South Fork Crow River bridge reconstruction

Twin Cities Metropolitan Area
Work in the Twin Cities metropolitan area includes:

● I-35W Bridge replacement
● New Highway 212 project in Eden Prairie and Chaska
● I-35W/Crosstown Highway reconstruction
● I-35E/I-694 “Unweave the Weave” project
● Highway 12 interchange in Long Lake and Orono
● Highway 61 bridge deck repairs and bridge painting in Hastings
● Highway 65 interchange at County 14 in Blaine

Southern, West Central Minnesota
Work in southern and west central Minnesota includes:

● I-90 resurfacing in Olmsted and Mower counties
● Highway 14 Waseca expansion and bypass
● Highway 60 resurfacing between Butterfield and St. James
● Highway 169 Minnesota River bridge at LeSueur
● Highway 7 and Highway 29 resurfacing in Montevideo
● Highway 7 resurfacing and roundabout construction between Silver Lake and Bonifacius

During construction and road maintenance project work, Mn/DOT and the Minnesota State Patrol urge drivers to:

● Stay alert.
● Watch for signs, equipment and workers.
● Minimize distractions such as using cell phones, eating or drinking.
● Avoid tailgating.
● Follow posted speed limits; fines double in work zones.
● Stay in one lane while driving through a work zone.

For more information on the state construction program visit the Minnesota Department of Transportation Web site at www.mndot.gov.

Gov. Pawlenty hit projects hard that are close to House Chair Alice Hausman (DFL-St. Paul). Majority Leader Tony Sertich called it "personal" what Pawlenty did to chair Hausman. Sen. Sandy Pappas (DFL-St. Paul) was very emotional right after the gov's press conference, saying the vetoes are "insults to chair Hausman." The question some reporters started asking is if gender looks like a factor with Hausman being a female chair. Hausman was at the governor's press conference but Pappas said she ran out because she was so upset. We haven't been able to verify that because Hausman has been tied up in meetings. But two female senators from St. Paul (Anderson & Pappas) saw gender as a factor.

Senate Bonding Chair Keith Langseth wasn't very upset afterwards and showed little emotion to the governor eliminating about $200 million dollars of the bonding bill he crafted with Hausman. The biggest shock in the Capitol hallways is Pawlenty's slashing of Central Corridor money. Few saw that coming. The governor didn't get a big project he wanted: Vermilion State Park. So lawmakers got something gutted they wanted too. Pawlenty noted that they already passed a huge transportation bill above his objections. The governor is keeping lawmakers on their toes; they really didn't expect a line-item vetoed bill since Pawlenty has been quick to take down whole bills. This reminds lawmakers of some of the unique and huge powers a governor has in a year where they overrode the big guy for the first time.