Peterson Secures $2 Million for Highway 23 Bypass

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Congressman Collin Peterson announced that the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (TEA-LU) bill that includes $2 million for the Highway 23 Paynesville Bypass project.

“I took this project to House Transportation Committee Chairman Don Young (AK) and Ranking Member Jim Oberstar (MN-8) and convinced them of its importance,” Peterson said. “Because many of our federal transportation dollars are allocated by Minnesota’s State Department of Transportation the money doesn’t always get out to rural areas like it should. By convincing Chairman Young and Congressman Oberstar to set aside funds for this project I made sure the federal money would go directly to the bypass project without getting sidetracked in St. Paul.

“Although this project is not actually located in my district, I understand the need for this highway and the economic implications it has for Willmar. I put in some extra effort working with House Transportation Committee Chairman Don Young (AK) and as a result I was able to get an additional $2 million dollars authorized for this project.”

Highway 23 is a critical link in the transportation network that serves the rich farm country of west central Minnesota. This project will connect Willmar and southwestern Minnesota to St. Cloud and I-94. Much of the recent economic growth in southwestern Minnesota has been focused on the Highway 23 corridor. The lack of reliable travel time between Willmar and Interstate 94 in St. Cloud has been cited by several businesses as reasons they have chosen not to locate in southwestern Minnesota.

“A four-lane highway that gives Willmar direct access to St. Cloud is an important tool for economic development in southwestern Minnesota”, Peterson said. “This will help revitalize the economy and provide safe efficient routes to markets.”

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