Lower Sioux Community Receives $25 Million Federal Grant to Rebuild County Road 2 | News

(Morton MN-) U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (both D-MN) announced two grants for tribal communities in Minnesota to make several sections of the highway safer and more accessible for travelers.

“Rebuilding our infrastructure is critical for families, workers and businesses everywhere – including in tribal communities like the Lower Sioux Indian Community and the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians,” said Senator Klobuchar. “These infrastructure projects will create good jobs, support new businesses and make travel safer for drivers and pedestrians.”

“If we want to build an economy that works for everyone, we must prioritize investments in vital infrastructure like highways that connect people to opportunities across the state,” said Senator Smith. “This federal grant will help improve safety on County State Aid Highway 2 and Minnesota State Highway 1 so members of the Lower Sioux and Red Lake Nation can safely get where they need to go. It’s great to see this significant federal investment and I will continue to fight to bring federal money back to Minnesota.”

Two tribal communities received grants:

The Lower Sioux Indian Community will use a $25 million grant to reconstruct approximately ten miles of County State Aid Highway 2, construct a shared-use trail and construct an electric vehicle charging station.

The Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians will use a $25 million grant to reconstruct approximately 1.2 miles of Minnesota State Highway 1, rehabilitate 4 miles of existing pavement on Walking Shield Road and restore the Walking Shield Road extend 5.6 miles east. Approximately 11 miles of shared-use trails will also be constructed. Other improvements include widened shoulders, sidewalks, installation of street lighting, access improvements, cultural features, culvert replacement, new guardrails, intersection improvements including a new roundabout, and stormwater and drainage improvements.

The grants were distributed through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program within the Department of Transportation. The bipartisan infrastructure bill that Klobuchar and Smith supported resulted in a 50 percent increase in funding available for RAISE, which provides grants for surface transportation infrastructure projects with significant local or regional impacts.