State transportation officials gathered at Central Office April 5 to officially announce the beginning of the 2012 construction season.

This year’s program consists of 316 projects around the state with a construction cost of nearly $920 million.

“MnDOT is focused on improving our highways and maximizing the capacity of the system," said Commissioner Tom Sorel. “Our transportation system is vital to the state’s economy and to its citizens’ quality of life. We want to ensure that it provides a safe and efficient trip for all users.”

This year’s state highway construction projects include work on the Interstate 694/Hwy 10 interchange in the Twin Cities and the conclusion of bridge and pavement replacement on a section of I-35 in Duluth. Other projects scheduled for 2012 improve safety at railroad crossings, repair seawalls and docks and make improvements on runways and terminals at regional airports.

“This year’s program will also aid the state’s economy by supporting thousands of jobs this year,” Sorel said. “The highway construction industry employs thousands and is a key partner in our efforts to deliver this program.”

Unlike past years, the kickoff news conference aired statewide via webinar, giving media in Greater Minnesota a better opportunity to ask district representatives questions about local projects that are part of the 2012 program.

Some districts will be working on their largest construction programs to date this year, including District 1, where a $180 million price tag marks the highest ever in the district’s history. District 1 construction programs since 2007 have ranged from $60 million to $125 million, according to Mike Tardy, District 1 assistant district engineer. The size of the 2012 program is primarily due to the inclusion of additional funding to regular state and federal funds, including:

• $50 million for Better Roads for a Better Minnesota projects
• $45 million for high priority projects
• $7 million for a federal forest highway project
• $2 million for a Chapter 152 bridge project

“Also, there is approximately $8 million worth of work from last year that had to be carried into this year due to the state government shutdown,” Tardy said. “Add it all up, and it's a record construction year for District 1.”

Additional projects this year in Greater Minnesota include:

• Constructing an interchange on Hwy 14 in North Mankato.
• Resurfacing portions of Hwy 10 between Clear Lake and Big Lake.
• Resurfacing 28 miles of Hwy 71 in Koochiching County.

Metro District also will be working on a large construction program that features 93 separate road and bridge projects, including the continuation of the $130.4 million Hwy 52 Lafayette Bridge in St. Paul.  

In addition to large projects like the Lafayette Bridge, Metro District will be working on several innovative projects around the Twin Cities aimed at minimizing traffic impacts and improving the quality of life for the traveling public. One of those projects is the Maryland Avenue Bridge over I-35E in St. Paul.

“For Maryland Avenue, we're using a technology called a self-propelled modular transporter,” said Tom O’Keefe, Metro District director of program delivery. “What that allows us to do is build the bridge deck and superstructure offline and then move that into place at the end of construction.”

Building the bridge at a different location reduces the amount of time Maryland Avenue will need to be closed, which will be “no more than 60 days,” according to O’Keefe.

Another technology being used by Metro District this year is a moveable barrier—a large machine used to transfer concrete barrier segments from one road surface to another. The moveable barrier has been used before on the I-94 bridge between Minnesota and Wisconsin, and will be used this year on I-494 in Bloomington to reduce traffic impacts.  

Additional projects this year in the Twin Cities metro area include:

• Continuing work on the Hwy 61 Mississippi River bridge in Hastings.
• Resurfacing I-35E between St. Paul and Forest Lake.
• Continuing work on the Hwy 169 and I-494 interchange.

For a complete list of projects, including construction dates and traffic impacts, visit www.dot.state.mn.us/construction.

To view a video recording of the construction kickoff news conference, visit http://mediasite.uvs.umn.edu/Mediasite/Viewer/?peid=0d08a7527a844c319f34d720dddac82d.

By Jessica Wiens

Employees looking to develop new skills and build relationships at MnDOT are encouraged to take part in the new leadership development program, Commissioner Tom Sorel announced during an April 10 webcast.

“MnDOT is focusing on the future of our organization and its emerging leaders,” said Linda Draze, leadership development project manager. “The Leadership Development Program is an open and inclusive approach to creating customized leadership opportunities for our employees.”

Interested employees should:

• Review program information on the Leadership Development Program iHUB website
• Decide which leadership path fits best— Pool A, B or C
• Complete required documents
• Discuss the program with their supervisor.

This enrollment period ends May 4; however, future enrollment opportunities will be available. 

The program helps employees build and document skills in four key areas—knowledge, competencies, experience and personal attributes.

“It is the employee’s responsibility to initiate development and the supervisor’s responsibility to support development,” Draze said.  

Examples of leadership activities in an employee’s personal development plan could include:

• Learning about or working in a different office
• Documenting or refining a process
• Attending a diversity-themed training or brown bag session
• Completing a self-assessment
• Leading a committee
• Touring a MnDOT facility to learn about work performed there
• Trading a responsibility with a colleague
• Attending a legislative hearing

Details about the program and how to enroll or apply are available at ihub.dot.state.mn.us/leadership/.  

Contact Linda Draze at 651-366-5251 or linda.draze@state.mn.us with specific questions. 

By Becky Dahlberg

This April marks the five-month anniversary of MnDOT’s employee ombudsman function—an informal, independent and confidential resource for employees to use when they have workplace issues.

Wendy Friede, principal of Friede Coaching and Consulting and the agency’s first-ever employee ombudsman, has heard from most Central Office divisions and all but two of the district offices during her first five months. So far, employees at multiple levels of the organization have used the function.

“I’m pleased with the acceptance of the program,” Friede said. “There’s been a healthy volume of people with more than 30 cases to date.”

Issues pertaining to leadership and human resources are the most commonly discussed topics, as well as peer relationships and organizational practices. In most instances, employees have contacted Friede by phone with positive results.

“My main job is to listen, help employees clarify what their real issue is and either refer them to the appropriate place or help them communicate their concern in the most effective manner,” Friede said.

Friede’s role also includes gathering information on organizational policy or practices for the employee.

If an issue is never fully resolved, or if the issue involves the person to whom employees would normally go to resolve an issue, employees are encouraged to contact the employee ombudsman.

“There’s still opportunity for those who don’t know where to go or who have ongoing issues to get their issues resolved through discussion of their options or coaching on how to handle the situation,” Friede said.

Friede also is open and willing to attend staff meetings to talk about the employee ombudsman function and share trend data.

Employees can contact Friede at wfriede@comcast.net, 651-366-3064 or toll free outside the Twin Cities metro area at 1-855-259-6363. Her office is located in Room B26A of Central Office, although she is willing to accommodate needs and meet people at other locations as needed.

For more information on the employee ombudsman function and Friede’s background, visit ihub.dot.state.mn.us/ombudsman.

Women’s Transportation Seminar Minnesota is holding its annual Scholarships and Recognitions Luncheon on April 30 to recognize individuals and projects for their contributions to the state transportation community. The event will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Jax Café, 1928 University Ave. NE, Minneapolis.

Employees interested in attending the event should RSVP to nfarring@ch2m.com by April 23, or contact Fay Simer at 651-366-4192 with additional questions. Admission is $35 for WTS members and $40 for non-members.

This year’s WTS Minnesota Innovative Transportation Solutions Award will be presented to MnDOT for its Minnesota GO visioning process. Mark Nelson and Philip Schaffner, Office of Statewide Multimodal Planning, will be on hand at the event to accept the award on behalf of the agency. 

For more information on the WTS Minnesota and the upcoming Scholarships and Recognitions Luncheon, visit www.wtsinternational.org/minnesota/.