Margaret Anderson Kelliher discusses biofuels training programs at MN State Community and Technical College in Moorhead
Safe roads and sturdy bridges are critical to creating a strong economic climate that will support homegrown businesses and Minnesota industries. As Governor, Margaret Anderson Kelliher will get people back to work repairing Minnesota crumbling roads, bridges and the critical infrastructure.
The DeSoto Bridge in St. Cloud – now known as the Granite City Crossing–was slated to close because it was structurally unsound. The bridge closure would have seriously disrupted the lives of the more than 31,000 people who use the bridge each day. For the people driving to and from work, semi trucks carrying goods in and out of the city, school buses, emergency workers and others depend on the safety of this bridge it was crucial to rebuild this bridge as soon as possible.
The bridge closure would have cut off a major economic lifeline on which the regional economy depends. But because of Margaret Anderson Kelliher’s work, the bridge was rebuilt with a significantly safer design. New state investments made possible by the 2008 transportation veto override put hundreds of Minnesota construction workers back on the job. The bridge opened ahead of schedule in October 2009.