Minnesota’s Road Construction Continues As Winter Approaches

I got an email the other day from a company whose product line was one that is used more in the colder weather months of the year. The subject line gave me a clue that the weather will soon be changing.   

We’ve already started seeing some folks drag out their favorite hoodies and long sleeves, and that will continue, if this warm weather ever turns more seasonable. There will be another sign that colder weather is on the way and that will be with the wrapping up of road construction projects in Minnesota.  

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Even though we’re in the season of the weather changing, there is still some road work that is being done around the state. To that point, the Minnesota Department of Transportation took the opportunity recently on Facebook to remind drivers that there are still people working on the roads. 

According to a presentation that MnDOT did last December, the number of accidents that occurred in work zones increased from 2023 by 17% from January of 2024 until November 7th of last year. That means that two of the busiest times of the year on the roads were not even factors in the increased number of accidents. 

Sadly, the number of severe and fatal crashes also increased over that same time period, 47 total in 2023 to 61 between January and the start of November.  

The work on the roads maybe winding down for the season, but it’s not over yet. Take this as a reminder to be very aware when you’re going through work zones and that the speed limits aren’t suggestions, they are what they are for a reason.