The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) approached the Mower County Board with updates to its upcoming construction projects during Tuesday morning’s session.

MnDOT bases its long-range planning of projects on the 20-year revenue forecast from MnSHIP (2017 to 2037), and every year, the transportation agency revises the forecast for the next four years based on recent funding budgets and anticipated annual increases, according to Heather Lukes, MnDOT District 6 planning director.

“One big challenge that we encountered was funding,” Lukes said. “The amount of money we were projected to get actually went down.”

To compensate for the funding changes, MnDOT moved some projects back from the STIP projects (which were 1 to 4 years away) into CHIP projects, which are projected to be five to 10 years away.

There were some major projects that were updated within District 6:

US 14 4-lane expansion, Dodge Center to Owatonna

•Construction should start winter of 2019 to 2020, and continue through the summer of 2022.

•Project includes new interchanges and overpasses, a controlled-access freeway design.

•New alignment of roadway removes an existing at-grade railroad crossing.

•New four-lane highway opens to traffic in the fall of 2021.

US 52 rural regrade and bridge work, Zumbrota to Cannon Falls

•Project includes a full reconstruction of southbound lanes, replace six bridges near Zumbrota, driveway access closures and adds reduced conflict intersections.

•MnDOT is considering a new interchange at MN 57 (Hader) as one of multiple design alternatives. An official recommendation on that alternative iex expected in the summer of 2019.

•There will be additional outreach in 2019 about the project and its design.

•Construction is anticipated to start spring of 2021 and end in the fall of 2023.

Red Wing bridge project

•Mississippi River flooding delayed efforts to install tub girder spans, but current plans including finishing the center span after May 20. Bridge deck pouring will occur once the spans are installed.

•MnDOT is awaiting the surcharging of the soil on the approach road on Wisconsin.

•Third and Bluff Streets paving is scheduled in May after curb and gutter work is completed.

•Automobile traffic could be on the new bridge this year: MnDOT will evaluate that this summer to determine if that traffic schedule will be adjusted.

2019 construction projects in Mower County included:

•Highway 16 getting resurfaced and ADA improvements from I-90 to Tracy Road in Spring Valley

•I-90 westbound Oakland Woods Rest Area reconstruction and expansion

•Highway 218 at Lyle, which includes bypass lane and right-turn lane construction.