MnDOT awards $81.5 million to improve statewide freight network

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Fifteen projects that will improve freight mobility, safety, intermodal connections, and first and last-mile freight throughout Minnesota were selected to receive a total of $81.5 million in funding, the Minnesota Department of Transportation announced today.
These 15 projects selected are part of the third round of targeted freight funding offered through the competitive Minnesota Highway Freight Program. MHFP funds are made available for road, port, airport and railroad projects. This round of funding will be applied to projects programmed in state fiscal years 2026–28.
The projects awarded funding include:

MnDOT Rest Area Program – I-94 Enfield Rest Area truck parking expansion: $2.7 million
MnDOT District 4 – Snow fence on I-94 near Rothsay: $2.25 million
MnDOT Rest Area Program - I-94 Big Spunk Lake Rest Area truck parking expansion: $3.4 million
City of Cottage Grove – 100 St SW arterial roadway project: $5 million
Sherburne County – Highway 169 and County Road 4 rural safety and mobility project: $10.8 million
Carver County – Highway 5 Arboretum Area safety project: $10.8 million
Scott County – Highway River, Rails, and Highway Freight Improvement project: $10.8 million
City of Coon Rapids – Highway 610 East River Road interchange: $10.8 million
Bridgewater Township – Comus Industrial Park Intermodal Facility access road: $1.6 million
MnDOT District 7 – Highway 169 Mankato Area revitalization: $10.8 million
City of Clearwater – I-94 and Highway 24 improvements: $5 million
City of Mankato – Veterans Memorial Bridge rehabilitation; $6.1 million
Statewide Truck Parking Information and Management System replacement project: $550,000
Statewide Truck Parking Study update: $300,000
State Freight Plan update: $600,000

The MHFP encourages public and private sector entities to apply for funding for transportation projects that benefit freight movement across the state. During this latest round of the solicitation, MnDOT received 24 applications requesting $158 million. Each project was evaluated for key freight data, proposed project benefits, and project readiness.
MnDOT worked with stakeholders over the past two years to develop and roll out this round of the solicitation. Funding for the program comes through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and connects to the key strategic goals in Minnesota’s State Freight Plan.

More information about the awards and the program can be found online at the program website at https://www.dot.state.mn.us/ofrw/mhfp/.

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