An engineer with the Minnesota Department of Transportation this week briefed Koochiching County commissioners about upcoming road projects planned for within the county.
Walter Leu, MnDOT assistant District 1 engineer for state aid roads, reviewed the Area Transportation Partnership process for allocation of federal dollars to transportation projects and the proposed projects for 2013 to 2016 in Koochiching County.
ATP projects planned for 2012 in Koochiching County include replacement of bridges on Highway 11 East at Jackfish and Tilson Bays.
Leu told the board that the bridge projects must wait until after fish spawning season, with the work scheduled to begin July 1, with completion planned in October.
Leu said the contractor on the projects will work on both bridges at the same time and will require single lane traffic. Signal controls will be used in the project, he said.
Work planned on U.S. Highway 53 near Cook, delayed by a wetland permitting issue by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will likely push the contract award to August, thereby delaying the project for another year.
Other projects:
2012
• Highway 217, east of Highway 65 intersection. Involves placing rip rap around piers of a bridge.
• U.S. 71, north of Highway 6 to Highway 71. Involves milling and overlays.
2013
• Highway 65, 11 miles north of southern Koochiching County line to 4.8 miles to Highway 71. Involves four bridge replacements.
• Highway 11 west, one mile west of Indus to Loman. Involves bituminous milling and overlay, shoulder widening, and drainage repairs.
2014
• Pedestrian and bike trail, from Second Creek to Ranier. Involves widening the trail to meet standards.
• International Falls Area Gateway Corridor Improvement Project. Involves lighting, landscaping and “way finding” signs.
2015
• Highway 11, Loman to Pelland. Involves milling and overlay and shoulder widening.
• Pedestrian and bike trail, from Second Creek to Ranier. Involves widening the trail to meet standards.
• Railroad crossing on County State Aid Highway 20 at Spruce Street in Ranier. Involves installing gates over three-track crossing.
2016 draft
• Highway 217, east limits of Littlefork to Junction Highway 53.
