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ST. PAUL, Minn. – Three of the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s recent roadway reconstruction projects and an innovative approach to workplace safety won regional awards in the America’s Transportation Awards this week.
Minnesota won awards in all four categories of the contest, which covers the 10 states of the Mid-America Association of State Transportation Officials (MAASTO). Collectively, these states submitted 27 projects for consideration.
“At MnDOT, we are serious about our responsibility to connect and serve all people through a safe, equitable and sustainable transportation system,” said Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger. “We’re committed to improving transportation infrastructure and quality of life all around Minnesota, and to do so in a way that ensures the safety of everyone who works for or with MnDOT.”
Minnesota’s winners include:
- The Twin Ports Interchange in Duluth in the Operational Excellence, Large Project category. Delivering improved safety, replacing aging infrastructure and increasing freight mobility, the Twin Ports Interchange project upgraded a high‑performing transportation asset on the “first and last mile” to the Port of Duluth.
- The Rock Ridge Transportation Improvements project in Eveleth in the Safety, Medium Project category. MnDOT and St. Louis County formed a successful partnership to develop, fund and construct intersection safety improvements on an abbreviated timeline to improve safe traffic flow and pedestrian connections around a newly constructed school campus.
- The Highway 371 Corridor Improvement in Hackensack in the Quality of Life/Community Development, Small Project category. This project transformed a vehicle‑dominated, deteriorating highway into a safer, multimodal corridor with sidewalks, predictable access spacing and welcoming public spaces that strengthened downtown vitality through improved connections to local businesses and outdoor recreation.
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MnDOT’s Safety Culture in the Best Use of Technology and Innovation, Small Project category. Through improved pre-task planning, the development of an iOS-based risk assessment app for staff, a new slip simulator and incorporating safety stand downs into our best practices, MnDOT has implemented various safety innovations that have strengthened safety practices, empowered crews to identify and address hazards and contributed to a measurable reduction in injuries and motor vehicle incidents.
America’s Transportation Awards are an annual contest from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) to showcase the meaningful work that departments of transportation are delivering across the country.
Minnesota’s regional winners are now eligible to advance to AASHTO’s national contest, which will name 12 finalists in September and a Grand Prize winner (selected by an independent panel of judges) and People’s Choice Award (selected by public vote) in November. This year, 45 state DOTs submitted 127 projects across four categories.
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www.mndot.gov
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