Dedication held for completion of Highway 14 expansion

Government officials, business representatives and many that had a hand in the project gathered to celebrate the completion of the 2.5-mile four-lane expansion of U.S. Highway 14 between Owatonna and Dodge Center. 
On the afternoon of Oct. 9, the dedication was held in the cul-da-sac of 54th Ave. The traffic of Highway 14 was a backdrop to the panel of speakers, which included Owatonna Mayor Tom Kuntz, Gov. Mark Dayton, Minnesota Department of Transportation Commissioner Charlie Zelle, Rep. John Petersburg and others. 
The four-lane expansion project began in July 2014. The project was funded in the state’s first Corridors of Commerce allocation in 2013.
“This really is a celebration and something I think we want to commemorate. Thanks to all of you,” said Petersburg. “I think we can all agree on the importance of a transportation system in greater Minnesota.”
Zelle agreed that the completion of the 2.5 mile project was significant. “This is a really important symbol when we dedicate the first phase of what we expect and hope will be multiple phases as we address Highway 14,” he said.
Zelle said that the project is important to Minnesota’s economy both short term and long term, as he said that the 2.5 mile stretch of expansion project created 340 non-permanent jobs. 
Dayton also spoke to the success of the 2.5 mile expansion, but he emphasized that the 2.5 miles is only a “small dent in the larger vision.” The larger vision is for Highway 14 to be expanded to four lanes all the way from South Dakota to Wisconsin. While Dayton laughs that he does not think he will see the full project complete in his life time, he jokes that when it does happen, a celebration will be in order.  
“The decisions we make are going to decide whether we and our children and grandchildren have an adequate highway system in Minnesota,” he said. “We’re really at a critical time, and I am hopeful the legislative session next year can get beyond the stalemate that existed this last session on how to pay for this, but it’s only going to have to come from us, one way or another from the people of Minnesota.”