ST. PAUL, MN—Legislation to fund Highway 14 improvements was heard in the House Transportation Finance Committee Friday. The bill, H.F. 1272, provides trunk highway bonds to complete the four lane expansion of Highway 14 between Owatonna and Dodge Center. The bill was laid over with recommendation to advance to the Capital Investment Committee.
“Highway 14 is vital to southern Minnesota’s well-being,” said bill sponsor Rep. Patti Fritz (DFL-Faribault). “Traffic in this area is increasing and Dodge and Steele counties are growing. We must update this highway to keep up with the growing population and economic activity.”
A woman whose husband died in a crash on Highway 14 delivered emotional testimony to the committee. From 2002 to 2011, there were 49 fatalities and 34 serious injury crashes on Highway 14 between New Ulm and Rochester. Of these, 9 fatalities and 7 serious injuries occurred between Owatonna and Dodge Center.
“I woke up to a phone call early the day after the election to hear that a man had been killed on this stretch of the highway. For me, this issue has become personal and I want to make sure that Highway 14 is safe for our family, friends and community members,” commented Rep. Fritz. “We can’t afford to put this project off. The longer we wait, the higher the costs of the project and the more lives we risk losing.”
Rep. Fritz can be reached by phone at (651) 296-8237 or by email at rep.patti.fritz@house.mn.
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