State transportation commissioner Charlie Zelle and others spoke Friday at an official groundbreaking ceremony for the Highway 371 four-lane expansion project from Nisswa to Jenkins. The groundbreaking was held at Trailside Park in Pequot Lakes.
The $49.9 million highway project is designed to improve safety and traffic flow on those 9 miles of Highway 371. The project has been talked about for many years, and became possible with Corridors of Commerce funding.
Zelle said the Highway 371 project is a signal of progress because what's being built will last for generations. He said transportation projects are more than just bridges and highways-they tie in with the livability of communities.
"371 is such a critical corridor for freight; 371 is such a critical corridor for all the popular recreation and all those travel destinations," he said, noting this tourist area depends on successful infrastructure to get people through the area without disrupting the community.
The project is all about safety, and the direct economic effects it will provide, Zelle said.
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Those who spoke, including Zelle and Pequot Lakes mayor Dave Sjoblad, emphasized that Pequot Lakes businesses will remain open through highway construction.
"Businesses will be open through the project. Nothing will be closed down," Zelle said.
The transportation commissioner advocated for more state funding for road and bridge projects.
"We can't let the bridge and road system deteriorate," he said, noting there's a projected $12 billion funding gap over the next 20 years and a recent analysis has that number at $16 billion.
Many businesses and groups see the value in a four-lane highway and want to extend the Highway 371 expansion to Pine River and beyond, he said.
