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ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Transportation will soon begin testing a new method for improving work zone safety: installing speed safety cameras at two highway construction sites.
“Everyone deserves to get home safely each day,” said MnDOT Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger. “Speeding in work zones is the top safety concern we hear from the people who work on our roads. These camera systems, which have been used in other states, offer another tool that may help improve safety for everyone who works in, and travels through, the limited space within work zones.”
The two work zones where the work zone speed safety cameras will be installed are:
People entering these two work zones will see orange signs alerting them when the speed safety camera systems are in use and capturing images of drivers violating the speed limit. Registered owners of vehicles recorded traveling 10 mph or more above the work zone speed limit may receive warning letters. The warning letters will include the recorded speed of the vehicle, a photo of the vehicle’s license plate and educational information about work zone safety. The systems will only record images of license plates; no images of vehicle occupants will be recorded.
No fines will be issued as part of the work zone speed safety camera pilot project. The main goals this summer are to test camera systems and their effectiveness as work zone safety devices and to educate drivers on the importance of driving safely in work zones.
The speed safety cameras pilot project is one component of the Walz-Flanagan Administration’s work to improve highway safety for everyone. Since 2019, MnDOT has installed hundreds of safety improvements on Minnesota’s highways, including 82 roundabouts, 83 J-Turns and 115 miles of high-tension cable barrier.
MnDOT’s work zone speed safety cameras are part of a larger pilot project authorized by the 2024 Minnesota Legislature to study the feasibility and effectiveness of speed safety cameras in Minnesota. Studies show speed safety cameras are effective at reducing severe crashes, deaths and serious injuries in the areas they’re installed. MnDOT has the option to test and evaluate the cameras in up to two more work zones in 2027 or 2028.
Since 2021, there have been more than 11,000 crashes in Minnesota work zones. Twenty-two people have died and 609 people were injured in speed-related work zone crashes in Minnesota. Speeding contributed to 38% of all work zone fatalities, and 31% of the work zone crashes that involve speeding are fatal or cause injury.
Feedback sought throughout the pilot project
Minnesotans traveling through the work zones are encouraged to provide feedback on work zone speed safety camera systems, the pilot project, its communications and their experience as they navigate these work zones. Comments can be sent by email to safetycameras.dot@state.mn.us or through the feedback form on MnDOT’s website.
More information about work zone speed safety cameras in Minnesota can be found on MnDOT’s website.
To receive advance notice of when work zone speed safety cameras in each work zone will begin sending warning letters, sign up for I-35W in Burnsville and Highway 65 Cambridge to Braham email updates.
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www.mndot.gov
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