Winter has barely begun, but the Minnesota Department of Transportation is already setting the stage for the road construction season in 2021. Traffic should be rolling on the new portion of Highway 14 between Owatonna and Dodge Center by the end of the 2021 construction season.

MNDOT reports that "Approximately 4 lane miles were paved on the project (in 2020). Much of the work is in the vicinity south of Claremont." Overall, the project expands 12-and-a-half miles of Highway 14 from two-lane to a four-lane divided roadway. It creates "a continuous four-lane road between Mankato and Rochester. The project is intended to improve the capacity, safety, travel times and access between Rochester and Owatonna, as well as the I-35 corridor," according to the project summary from the department.

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Some work on Highway 52 south of Cannon Falls will involve bridge replacement in Zumbrota in addition to intersection improvement and other safety measures.

Highway 52 will be the subject of other projects beginning in 2021 as well. MNDOT reports, "Construction projects are schedule on the Highway 52 corridor between Rochester and St. Paul from 2020 to 2024 that will improve the ride, safety and traffic flow."

Work scheduled north of Stewartville will continue the job of reconstructing the I-90 interchange with Highway 63. MNDOT reports, "Construction at the I-90 and Hwy 63 interchange just north of Stewartville spring of 2020. The 2-year project will address several existing conditions including: intersection safety issues, congestion issues, functionally obsolete bridges, inadequate deceleration, acceleration and merge lanes, and sight issues." The project should be completed by August 2021.

Two bridges over I-90 in Austin will be replaced over the next couple of years. In 2021 the bridge at 28th Street NE will be replaced as it is "nearing the end of its service life." In 2022 the bridge at 14th Street NW will be replaced.

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