Highway workers are not on-site at most road projects around Minnesota today because of the holiday, but MN-DOT’s Kevin Gutknecht reminds motorists that work zones are still there. “A lot of times we’re doing work where we’ve had to close off lanes… and maybe rip the lanes out, and it doesn’t work to try to open that up because there’s nothing there to open up,” he says. Gutknecht advises: Allow extra time, stay alert and plan your trip to avoid congestion. 511-mn-dot-org will help.
Gutknecht reminds motorists, don’t drive distracted: “Put your phones down. Shut ’em off it you need to. Don’t be eating and drinking in the car like it was a dining room. Make sure that you are able to focus solely on the roadway,” he says. Also important for a safe trip home: Observe the speed limit, buckle up, and don’t drink and drive.
More in this interview: