A Glimpse of Dodge County

After at least 20 years of talking and construction is it possible that Highway 14 will finally be upgraded to a four-lane roadway through all of Dodge and Steele Counties?
It seems like the project has been in the talking stage for almost as long as anyone can remember. The project has gotten a boost in the past two legislative sessions with the Corridors of Commerce legislation.
In fact with the exception of a portion of the highway in the New Ulm area and a 13-mile stretch from east of Owatonna to Dodge Center the highway has been or is in the process of being upgraded.
Last week Gov. Mark Dayton announced his transportation plan for the state that, if approved by the legislature, could see the remaining portions of the project completed in the next three to six years.
Somewhat ironically, the upgrade has been going on for so long that the governor’s plan also includes improvements and repairs to sections already completed.
Highway 14 has long been acknowledged as one of the most dangerous roadways in Minnesota and the stretch between Owatonna and Dodge Center has seen 197 crashes in the years between 2004 and 2013 eight of which included fatalities, according to the Department of Transportation.
There is no doubt that upgrading is long overdue.
Local legislators and the Highway 14 partnership have put in a lot of work to secure the upgrade.
The biggest problem over the years has been the money to fund this and other road and bridge projects and Dayton’s plan does address that issue.
The Highway 14 upgrades are part of a total transportation package that would invest $6 billion in the transportation system over a 10-year time frame.
How would we pay for it? Through a 6.5 percent gross receipts tax on gasoline, raising the current 1.25 percent base tax on vehicle registration to 1.5 percent and raising car registration fees by $10.
How the plan fares as it moves through the legislature remains to be seen and no doubt changes will be made.
Hopefully, however, legislators will finally find a way to complete a needed project and make traveling between Owatonna and Rochester a lot safer.