At the Worker Memorial Day observance in St. Paul, 28 chairs were draped in safety vests and hard hats to symbolize Mn/DOT workers who have been killed on the job. Another eight chairs containing State Patrol hats signified fallen troopers. By David Gonzalez

Earl Held. Greg Nelson. Alan Larson. Albert Vasquez. Tom Schmit. These are a few of the transportation workers Mn/DOT employees gathered statewide April 28 to remember as part of the annual Worker Memorial Day event.

Observed internationally, the event honors workers who have been injured or killed on the job. Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Lt. Gov./Commissioner Carol Molnau proclaimed April 28, 2004 as Worker Memorial Day in Minnesota.

In St. Paul, 36 chairs flanked the speakers’ podium in front of the Transportation Building. Twenty-eight chairs were draped with safety vests and hard hats to represent the Mn/DOT employees who lost their lives on the job since 1960; eight chairs contained State Patrol hats symbolizing the troopers who have died in work-related incidents.

The observance included remarks by Terry Schmitt, a transportation generalist working in Rochester/District 6, who was seriously injured in 1998 when he was plowing snow.

David Smith, a transportation generalist in Mn/DOT’s Metro District, received recognition for his contributions to promote work zone safety and Worker Memorial Day at Mn/DOT. In his 32-year state career, Smith experienced two work-related accidents himself and has known co-workers and friends who were killed or injured on the job.

"Dave’s passion for ensuring that we at Mn/DOT commemorate this day annually has been unwavering," said Bob Winter, District Operations Division director, who emceed the St. Paul event.

Smith said it is "an unending task" to raise public awareness about work zone safety. In an informal survey he and colleagues took earlier this week while on a job, Smith said they noted about 25 percent of drivers going through their work zone were on cell phones, while others were eating or drinking.

From left, Larry Cooper, Mankato/District 7 bridge maintenance supervisor, and Mark Scheidel, Mankato/District 7 principal planner, perform Bob Dylan’s "I Shall Be Released." By David Gonzalez

Representatives from the Department of Public Safety, the Department of Labor and Industry, and AFSCME Council 6, the union that represents highway workers, also spoke.

Mike Buesing, AFSCME president, urged people to "mourn for the dead, but fight for the living."

Larry Cooper, Mankato/District 7 bridge maintenance supervisor, and Mark Scheidel, Mankato/District 7 principal planner, provided a musical tribute for the occasion, performing Bob Dylan’s "I Shall Be Released" on guitar and harmonica.

A message from the lieutenant governor, who was observing Worker Memorial Day events with District 3 employees at Camp Ripley, was broadcast at 2 p.m. at Mn/DOT locations statewide. The message was accompanied by guitar music composed and played by Kai Link, on mobility in Metro District.

Follow this link for additional information including a copy of the governor’s proclamation, text of the commissioner's speech and names of employees who were killed on the job: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/workzone/.

back

This new mile-marker on I-35W provides additional information that could help motorists describe their exact location when seeking help following a crash, breakdown or other incident. Photo by Brian Kary

Bright green mile-markers placed in the medians of two Twin Cities metro area freeway corridors will help motorists describe their exact location when seeking help following a crash, breakdown or other incident.

The markers display the roadway shield, direction of travel and the mile point in increments of one-tenth of a mile. They are located on I-35W from 46th Street to the Industrial Boulevard and on Hwy 65 from where it splits from I-35W near Franklin Avenue and runs north into downtown Minneapolis. Both freeway sections are in Minneapolis.

Jim Kranig, director of the Regional Transportation Management Center, said the markers make it easier for motorists to report incident locations in areas where accurate identification has been difficult to obtain.

"Emergency responders and motorists alike will benefit from the new mile-marker designations because emergency vehicles can respond faster with precise incident locations," he said.

Faster removal of vehicles involved in crashes or stalled cars leads to fewer incident-related delays and secondary crashes, ensuring safer travel for freeway users, Kranig said.

The new mile-makers join other traffic management tools such as cameras, ramp meters, loop detectors and changeable message signs that enable Mn/DOT to better manage the area’s busy freeways, he said.

By Craig Wilkins

back

Mark Seeley, University of Minnesota professor of climatology, addresses a general session on climate and the environment. Photo by Barb Bauer

Staff from Mn/DOT, other state and federal agencies and consultants met April 21-22 to determine how the department can remain an effective steward of the environment as Mn/DOT accelerates its highway construction program.

Participants in the workshop on environmental stewardship and streamlining the environmental review process examined issues such as erosion control, wetland management and dealing with contaminated properties acquired for construction purposes.

They also addressed the need to streamline the overall review process to match Mn/DOT’s expanded construction program.

They found no simple answers. They did, however, reach consensus that each agency needs to meet early in the planning process to establish mutual goals and trust in order to avoid 11th hour crises, said Dick Elasky, Environmental Services director.

Environmental Services held the workshop to bring project managers, designers, engineers, hydrologists and environmental specialists together to examine issues they share.

Todd Grugel, district hydraulics engineer at Detroit Lakes, said the sessions he attended on the roles of regulatory agencies were a valuable part of the workshop.

"Going to the sessions on the watershed districts, the Pollution Control Agency, the Department of Natural Resources and the Corps of Engineers helped me know where they’re coming from so we can reach solutions that work for all parties," he said.

"The environmental aspect of projects is becoming more critical so it’s more important than ever that we have up-front coordination."

Elasky said remarks by Deputy Commissioner Doug Differt and Dick Stehr, director of Engineering Services, urged creating partnerships to reduce the likelihood of delays in the review process and the projects themselves.

"It was exciting to see the number of agencies there," said Scott Morgan, Mankato district hydraulics engineer. "By working together we can manage projects better and get things done more efficiently."

Differt said, for example, that Mn/DOT needs to work more closely with local, state and federal agencies when seeking permits for work that affects the state’s lakes, rivers and wetlands by moving the review process "upstream" to streamline the review process, reduce costs and keep the project on schedule.

Barb Bauer, a program manager with Environmental Services and a workshop planner, said the event brought participants up to date with changing environmental rules and regulations and emphasized the spirit of leaving an environmental legacy for future generations.

"The workshop stressed meeting those regulations," she said, "but also reflected the spirit of doing the right thing as responsible stewards of the earth."

Bauer said the workshop will be held annually to further explore issues related to the environment and program delivery.

Elasky said all the people involved in road planning, design and construction need to stay current with the latest developments in environmental science and project management.

"We need to become better stewards of the environment and move our projects out the door more quickly," Elasky said.

By Craig Wilkins

back

A 9.3-mile section of Hwy 71 between Park Rapids and the Hubbard County line built in 1964 that still provides high-quality service earned a Perpetual Pavement Award from the Asphalt Pavement Alliance.

Lynn Eaton, assistant district engineer for program delivery with District 2, accepted the award for the department at the alliance’s annual conference.

The section was constructed with hot-mix asphalt placed over an existing road, which had a granular soil subgrade, a 4.5-inch aggregate base and a 1.5-inch surface. The section was overlaid only once since it was completed nearly 40 years ago. Project contractor was Duininck Brothers, Inc., of Prinzburg.

Conference judges cited the project because of its ability to withstand the state’s extreme climactic conditions, few signs of visible deterioration and a high serviceability rating in spite of average daily traffic increasing from 1,410 in 1963 to 5,806 in 2002.

back

John Pawlak (at left) posed for a picture in 1993 with his predecessor, Lester Miller (immediate right), and two of his successors, John Sandahl and Dave Ekern, at ceremonies marking rehabilitation of the John Blatnik Bridge in Duluth. Photo by John Bray

John Pawlak, the former Duluth/District 1 district engineer, died April 20. He was 88.

A funeral Mass will be held April 29 at 11 a.m. at St. Gregory’s Catholic Church in North Branch. Visitation will be held for one hour before the Mass.

Pawlak’s career with Mn/DOT began in 1940.

He was appointed district engineer at Duluth in 1971 and served in that post until his retirement in 1983. His career with Mn/DOT was interrupted by his service as a Seabee with a U.S. Navy construction battalion during World War 2.

His tenure at District 1 was highlighted by the extension of I-35 through the city. While the project was contentious at first, the results—which included reducing traffic on the downtown surface streets and using the landscaped cover over the freeway tunnels to connect the downtown area to the lakefront—earned praise from all facets of the community.

Pawlak was respected by his peers for his experience, expertise and curiosity.

"John didn’t know me one bit but he would stop in the Bituminous Office when I was the bituminous engineer once or twice every year," said Pat Hughes, now the Metro district engineer. "His visits served to illustrate how the Central Office helped the districts do their jobs and to find out what we thought was important."

Dave Ekern, a successor of Pawlak’s at Duluth and now the director of the Idaho Department of Transportation, said Pawlak left a legacy of dedicated public service.

"As I reflect on John, he was truly representative of a generation of leaders in the department who had a clear sense of the mission of building the interstate system and ensuring the public investment was made at the best value," Ekern said.

"He had a no-nonsense approach to management and was always willing to share what he thought on issues. He was committed to doing what he believed to be the right thing to do and to hold the agency accountable for its commitments to the citizens of the state."

He is preceded in death by his spouse, Faith Pawlak, parents, sisters and brothers. His brother, Frank Pawlak, served as district engineer at Detroit Lakes from 1962 until 1974. He died in 1992.

John Pawlak’s survivors include two daughters and nephews and nieces.

By Craig Wilkins

back

Dan McDowell, a senior aviation planner with Aeronautics, received recognition from the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame for his writing, which appears in aviation-related publications.

McDowell earned a plaque citing him for authoring technical advisories for Aeronautics and other material for the "Minnesota Flyer" and other publications.

The award was presented to McDowell during ceremonies to induct new members into the Hall of Fame on April 17.

It was reported incorrectly in the April 14 issue of Mn/DOT Newsline that McDowell was inducted as a member of the Hall of Fame.

back