The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) is introducing speed safety cameras at two highway construction sites as part of a pilot project designed to improve work zone safety. The cameras will monitor speeding in active construction areas on Interstate 35W in Burnsville and Highway 65 between Cambridge and north of Braham. The initiative aims to evaluate whether automated speed monitoring can reduce dangerous driving behaviors and protect construction workers and motorists.
MnDOT Launches Work Zone Speed Camera Pilot Program
MnDOT is installing speed safety cameras at two Minnesota construction projects in late July as part of a pilot program authorized by the Minnesota Legislature in 2024.
The program will examine whether speed safety cameras can improve safety in highway work zones before the state considers any future expansion.
According to MnDOT, similar camera systems used in other states have helped reduce fatal and life-changing crashes.
The agency selected two construction areas where speeding concerns create significant risks for workers and drivers.
Two Minnesota Construction Sites Selected for Camera Installation
The speed safety cameras will be installed at two active construction locations:
Interstate 35W Construction Project in Burnsville
MnDOT selected the Interstate 35W work zone because of the high volume of traffic traveling through the area.
Brian Sorensen, MnDOT’s state traffic engineer, said the traffic volume made I-35W an important location for testing the technology.
The project represents a busy transportation corridor where construction crews work near significant vehicle movement.
Highway 65 Construction Between Cambridge and Braham
The second camera location covers Highway 65 between Cambridge and north of Braham.
MnDOT selected this site because construction workers operate close to moving vehicles.
The agency identified the location as an opportunity to evaluate whether speed monitoring can improve safety where workers face direct exposure to passing traffic.
Cameras Aim to Improve Work Zone Safety
MnDOT officials said speeding remains one of the biggest safety concerns among highway construction workers.
MnDOT Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger emphasized the importance of protecting workers and motorists traveling through limited work zone areas.
“Everyone deserves to get home safely each day,” Daubenberger said. She added that speeding in work zones remains the top safety concern reported by road workers.
The camera systems are intended to provide another safety tool for managing traffic behavior in construction zones.
Drivers Will Receive Warnings Instead of Fines
The Minnesota speed camera pilot focuses on education rather than issuing penalties.
If a camera detects a vehicle traveling 10 mph or more above the posted work zone speed limit, the registered vehicle owner may receive a warning letter.
The warning will include information about the recorded speed and work zone safety education materials.
MnDOT stated that the program will not issue fines during the pilot phase.
Orange roadside signs will notify motorists when speed safety cameras are active in construction zones.
Cameras Capture License Plates Only
MnDOT explained that the camera systems are designed to record license plate information only.
The technology will not capture images of vehicle occupants.
The agency stated that the pilot program focuses on evaluating driver behavior and determining whether speed cameras can improve work zone safety.
The collected information will help MnDOT assess the effectiveness of the systems before considering broader implementation.
Construction Workers Highlight Risks of Highway Work Zones
MnDOT’s speed camera initiative focuses on protecting workers who perform construction and maintenance activities near active traffic.
Minnesota State Patrol Lieutenant Jennifer Krier emphasized the human impact behind every construction zone.
“What I hope you also notice are the people,” Krier said. “Behind every cone is someone who came to work expecting to go home to their family.”
For MnDOT crew leader Nick Hale, work zone safety is a personal issue.
Hale was struck by a semitruck while working on Interstate 94 during a nighttime maintenance operation in 2019. The crash caused a bulging disc in his neck.
“The road is our office,” Hale said. “When you approach or enter a work zone, please slow down.”
Minnesota Reports Thousands of Work Zone Crashes
MnDOT reported more than 11,000 crashes in Minnesota work zones since 2021.
The agency said speeding contributed to 22 deaths and 609 injuries during that period.
Speed-related incidents continue to create risks for both highway workers and motorists.
MnDOT reported that speeding contributed to 38% of work zone fatalities. The agency also stated that 31% of work zone crashes involving speeding result in fatalities or injuries.
These statistics contributed to the decision to test speed safety cameras in active construction areas.
Pilot Program Will Evaluate Future Work Zone Safety Measures
The current camera deployment represents the first phase of Minnesota’s speed safety camera evaluation program.
MnDOT will review results from the two construction sites to determine whether the technology improves driver behavior and enhances worker safety.
The agency may test and evaluate speed cameras in up to two additional work zones during 2027 or 2028.
The findings from the pilot will help guide future decisions about the use of automated speed monitoring in Minnesota construction zones.
Previous Speed Camera Programs Show Potential Results
Minnesota has already tested speed cameras in other transportation settings.
The city of Minneapolis installed speed cameras at five intersections during the previous fall. Officials reported that speeding declined across all five locations after six months.
MnDOT is using the construction work zone pilot to determine whether similar technology can support safer highway environments.
Improving Safety Around Minnesota Construction Projects
MnDOT’s speed safety camera pilot reflects a broader effort to reduce risks in active construction areas. Highway workers often operate close to moving traffic, making driver awareness and compliance with speed limits critical components of work zone safety.
The success of the program will depend on how effectively the cameras influence driver behavior and protect workers.
As Minnesota continues investing in transportation infrastructure projects, work zone safety measures such as speed monitoring technology may become an important part of future construction safety strategies.
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