WILLMAR—Thanks to perfect weather last week, the concrete pour for the deck of the new Highway 12 bridge in Willmar was completed last week, according to the weekly Willmar Wye construction update from the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
Progress also continues on the Minnesota Highway 40 bridge, with pier construction concluding. Next up will be construction of the Highway 40 bridge abutments.
Read the full article at the West Central Tribune.
WILLMAR—As warmer weather returns, the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Hoffmann Group, contractor for the project, are getting ready to restart work on the Willmar Wye railroad bypass project on the west side of Willmar.
According to a project update from MnDOT, crews will begin construction next week on the new U.S. Highway 12 bridge, which will go over the rail line to be constructed by BNSF Railway.
Also next week, grading will be prepared for sidewalk and median concrete at the
WILLMAR—While proceeding with eminent domain to acquire just over 36 acres of land needed for the Willmar Wye rail bypass project would be Kandiyohi County’s last resort, the county commissioners approved a resolution to allow that to happen if needed.
The resolution to start the eminent domain process passed unanimously at Tuesday’s county board meeting, though the county commissioners hope negotiations prove successful.
“It is a place holder, negotiation does not stop,”
WILLMAR—For a few days last week a large crane towered over state Highway 40, near County State Aid Highway 55, as a new box culvert was installed at the Hawk Creek crossing. The installation is part of the Willmar Wye Rail Connector and Industrial Access project.
Despite the rains, the Hoffman Team, the contractor for the Willmar Wye project, continued pushing forward with construction on the road portion of the rail bypass project. The entire project will include a new section to U.S. Highway
WILLMAR—The master agreement among the Willmar Wye project partners is nearing completion and MnDOT has sent the three shortlisted design and build firms requests for proposal to lead the multi-million dollar project through its years-long construction schedule.
Paul Rasmussen, project manager for the Minnesota Department of Transportation District 8, said it is just the final details being worked out in the master agreement, which is actually several agreements rolled into one massive document.
“We
WILLMAR—Even though funding has been secured to complete the final two legs of the Highway 23 four-lane between Willmar and Interstate 94, the coalition of regional businesses and government entities that fought to obtain that funding has no intention of going away.
On the contrary, organizers say it’s hoped the 91-member coalition will expand to include community members as far north as Duluth and as far south as Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
“Yes, we were able to get funding for the
Funding for the latest round of transportation projects included in public works bill signed into law by Governor Mark Dayton
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Transportation today announced three additional Corridors of Commerce projects, valued at over $400 million. The projects were funded by Gov. Mark Dayton and the Minnesota Legislature in this year’s public works bill.
“These urgently needed highway improvements are essential for the safety of our people and the betterment
SPICER—On a bus ride from Paynesville to Spicer, Minnesota Transportation Commissioner Charles Zelle saw trucks hauling wind turbine blades south on Highway 23.
Zelle jokingly asked members of the Highway 23 Coalition Friday if they had arranged for those trucks so he could see the need for a four-lane state Highway 23 from Willmar to Interstate 94. The coalition hosted Zelle at a luncheon in Spicer and took him on tours of pending road projects, including the Willmar Wye.
Currently, the road has
