From major highway and bridge projects --thanks to the federal recovery act-- to small road repairs funded by Minnesota’s JOBS bill, signs of economic recovery are sprouting for 49ers this summer.
“It’s a good start, but no one project will be the savior for our industry this year,” says Brent Pykkonen, Local 49’s Duluth business agent.
March added about 300 construction jobs, according to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, but with double digit unemployment, a full industry recovery could take many months.
One of Minnesota’s biggest projects, the Highway 610 extension connecting Brooklyn Park and Maple Grove, has already provided jobs for several dozen Operators, and work is expected to last another year. When complete, the three mile stretch will include sound proofing barriers, two interchanges, three overpasses and a pedestrian bridge.
Also in the northwest metro, Operators have been busy reconstructing Devil’s Triangle at Highways 81 and 169.
“We worked though a decent portion of the winter and are on a good pace for the summer season,” says James Hermansen, Local 49’s north Twin Cities business agent.
For those heading to Duluth or the North Shore this summer, prepare for delays and detours because of what MN/Dot calls the Duluth Mega Project, a $66 million once-in-a-generation refurbishing of I-35. It will increase safety and reduce maintenance for the next 40 years. Nearly three dozen Operators will use their skills and training replacing and removing bridges and repaving roadways. Crews will also help install cable and other components for an Intelligent Transportation System.
Several stretches of Highway 61 will also be under construction. Near Split Rock Lighthouse crews will reconstruct roadway, replace bridges, and improve pedestrian/bike trails. Culvert replacement will take place on a 13-mile span between Grand Marais and Hovland.
Many other Operators will be back in their rigs this summer on smaller sites thanks in part to Local 49’s heavy lifting on critical JOBS legislation, which will invest more than $700 million in road, bridge and other vertical construction projects.
"It's great to see our lobbying efforts this legislative session paying off in the form of work for Operators, but this is only a small sign of improvement," says Glen Johnson, Local 49's business manager. "To really drive recovery in our industry, we need action on Congressman Oberstar's transportation legislation."
