Mn/DOT unveils 80 construction projects in the Twin Cities this year

Photo by M. Gifford.

Get ready.

The snow hasn't even melted yet, and Mn/DOT is already announcing a construction plan for the year that's sure to make you slam your head against the steering wheel.

The $900 million program will fund a total of 258 construction projects throughout the state in 2011 -- 80 of which will be the Twin Cities.

For drivers in Minneapolis and St. Paul, the seven sites on I-94 will be among the biggest nuisances. Most of these projects consist of resurfacing dilapidated stretches of road, including a heavily trafficked section between Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis and the Vandalia exit in St. Paul.

"Every road in the state needs periodic resurfacing or rebuilding," says Mn/DOT spokesman Kevin Gutknecht. "That's a very busy corridor, and it's been a few years since we've done overlays on it."

They will also be installing a noise wall on this segment of the highway, bringing the cost for this project alone to more than $25 million.

Another biggy will be the Lafayette Bridge in St. Paul. Construction workers will be completely replacing the bridge and approaching roadways. This one is projected to take until 2014, and is budgeted for $93,795,106 in 2011 alone.

Mn/DOT has the full list of Twin Cities sites here, and a map of the mayhem here. They will also send updates on delays via Twitter throughout the year.

All told, this will be one of the busiest construction seasons Minnesota has ever seen, says Gutknecht.

"Certainly there will be challenges," he says. "Folks need to plan ahead."