For Immediate Release
Contact: Shane Zahrt, sazahrt@flaherty-hood.com
Gov. Tim Walz signs the Highway 14 technical corrections bill into law.
Below is a statement from Karen Foreman, president of the U.S. Highway 14 Partnership and a member of the Mankato City Council regarding Governor Walz’s signature on HF 80, passed by the legislature on March 4, 2019, which includes language to fix a technical glitch holding up the construction on the Owatonna to Dodge Center expansion project:
“We are grateful that the Governor and Legislature were able to come to an agreement that will allow construction on the Owatonna to Dodge Center Highway 14 expansion project to proceed as scheduled. The legislation signed by the Governor today fixes a technical glitch in a bill passed last year that would have held up $160 million of funding and delayed the project’s start until 2022.
“This legislation fulfills the promise that the Legislature made last year to advance the Owatonna to Dodge Center expansion project. With this bill passed, MnDOT will be able to begin work as soon as this summer. This is great news for the thousands of people who travel on Highway 14 each day to get to work, school or to transport goods. I want to thank our Highway 14 legislators, Gov. Walz and all of the tireless advocates who worked hard to get this bill signed into law.
“We look forward to seeing this project become a reality, but we can’t forget that there is still more work to do. We are hopeful that the Legislature will continue efforts to fix Highway 14 by setting its sights on the New Ulm to Nicollet project. This project is essential to our where families are forced to share the road with semis on a daily basis.”
Below is a statement from Kevin Raney, vice president of the U.S. Highway 14 Partnership and a member of the Owatonna City Council:
“Recent tragic events on this portion of Highway 14 drive home the importance of getting this project done as soon as possible. Southern Minnesota families and businesses deserve an efficient highway that they don’t have to be scared to drive on. I want to thank the Legislature and Governor for taking this matter seriously and advancing it early on in the legislative session.”
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The U.S. Highway 14 Partnership is an advocacy organization supporting the four-lane expansion of Highway 14. Formed in 1998, the Partnership includes local governments, private businesses and other organizations across Southern Minnesota. Follow the Partnership on online at ushighway14.com and on Twitter at @Hwy14Pshp.