How many times have you driven on the interstate --crawling at less than half the speed you should be traveling-- only to see an electronic message board that informs you of what's painfully obvious; that motorists may 'encounter delays'?

Minnesota's Dept. of Transportation has a solution and they've implemented a more proactive system to deliver timely, targeted construction news. To date, more than 16,000 Minnesotans have signed up for MnDOT's email updates, a service that sends out information about major construction projects around the state, both current and future projects. They share video links too so motorists can see what's planned in months ahead.

Individuals can sign up for updates on roads they regularly travel; I-35, Highway 169; Highway 61/Hastings Bridge and more and get the latest reports on construction for their area.

"We work hard to make sure this information gets into the right people's email boxes with the most timely information as fast as we can," says Kay Korsgaard, MnDOT's spokeswoman. "We are constantly expanding the email lists to include new projects that are responsive to motorists' needs."

Motorists interested in construction projects on their path -- or anyone interested in MnDOT's planning process can sign up for any of the department's 55 areas by clicking on the link to the email update found here: Email Update.

And MnDOT goes well beyond that too. One of the state's major construction projects is the I-694 Interchange reconstruction. Naturally, the news went out to the media and to motorists on every stage of the work.

For instance, motorists were advised in recent weeks that work begins today at eastbound I-694, Hwy 10 and southbound Snelling Avenue. MnDOT posted the following: "Heads up! Eastbound Hwy 10 to eastbound I-694 will close late May 14. At the same time, eastbound I-694 to southbound Snelling Avenue will close. The closures are needed to rebuild the interchange of eastbound I-694 to southbound Snelling Avenue. The closures will last approximately seven months.
Southbound Hamline Avenue detour changes:
With the closure of eastbound Hwy 10, a new detour is in effect for southbound Hamline Avenue: Westbound County Road 96 to I-35W and then south to Hwy 36 to reach Snelling Avenue."

But more importantly, anyone who wants to know more about any of the I-694 projects scheduled through the entire north central region of the state, a 2-year project begun in Sept. 2011, can see exactly what I-694 will look like, with new bridges and interchanges, by clicking on the video link:
I-694 project video