Jan. 14—WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith recently announced
Red Lake Nation
as one of two grant recipients in Minnesota to make several sections of highway safer and more accessible for travelers.
According to a release, the grants were distributed as part of the
Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity Program
within the Department of Transportation.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Klobuchar and Smith supported, delivered a 50% increase in the amount of available funding for RAISE, which provides grants for surface transportation infrastructure projects with significant local or regional impact.
Red Lake Nation will use its $25 million award to reconstruct approximately 1.2 miles of Minnesota State Highway 1, rehabilitate four miles of existing pavement on Walking Shield Road and extend Walking Shield Road 5.6 miles to the east. Approximately 11 miles of shared use paths will also be constructed.
Other improvements include widened shoulders, sidewalks, installation of street lighting, access improvements, cultural elements, culvert replacements, new guardrail, intersection enhancements including a new roundabout, and stormwater and drainage improvements.
The Lower Sioux Indian Community also received a $25 million grant for improvements.
“Rebuilding our infrastructure is critical for families, workers and businesses everywhere — including in tribal communities like Lower Sioux Indian Community and Red Lake Band of Chippewa,” Klobuchar said in the release. “These infrastructure projects will create good jobs, support new businesses and make traveling safer for drivers and pedestrians.”
“If we’re going to build an economy that works for everyone, then we need to prioritize investments in vital infrastructure like highways that connect people with opportunities all across the state,” Smith added. “It’s great to see this significant federal investment and I’m going to keep fighting to bring federal dollars back to Minnesota.”