MnDot commits to Highway 14 safety

It was good to see that MnDOT Commissioner Tom Sorel was committed to keeping the Highway 14 project west of North Mankato on track for needed safety improvements. (Story)

News that the project bids had come in 30 percent over estimates was troubling given money is tight all over. But Sorel reiterated his commitment to the project while saying MnDOT would be examining the bids and design to either rebid or possibly change the project's design/build nature so it is less costly.

The project is of particular interest to us here at The Free Press. Reporter Mark Fischenich completed an exhaustive three-day series last year on the safety record of the Highway. An in-depth examination of the safety statistics had never been done.

Here's the series

Our report showed, among other things, that stretch of highway had a fatality rate that was 94 percent higher than the state average. The series prompted MnDOT to take a closer look at putting some money into the project.

Before that, it had not been scheduled for work for some 20 years.

We hope the project can get done, and get done at price that seems reasonable. We all know making that Highway a four-lane to New Ulm will make it much safer.

We appreciate MnDOT and Sorel making the commitment to making that road safe.