Highway
Mission statement
To construct and maintain a system of highways and bridges, facilitating the safe and efficient movement of people and goods throughout the county.
2023 road construction projects & maps
Projects for the 2023 season:
- CSAH-9 - Culvert Replacement and Rehabilitation (Project 09-50)
- CSAH-4 - Reconstruction through the city of Lonsdale (Project 04-08)
Project Update - June 26, 2023
Project map - County Road 52 & 59 - Mill, Reclamation, Bituminous Surfacing, Milled Rumble Strips & Pavement Marking. (Projects 52-01 & 59-02)
- I-35, Hwy 19, CSAH-46, & County Road 59 - Potential Construction of six-legged roundabout (Project 070-027 I35-TH 19-CSAH 46-CR 59 roundabout)
- Continued construction of new roads for access to the Rice County Public Safety Center currently under construction. (Project 07-01)
Maintenance projects for the 2023 season:
- Aggregate Surfacing of County Road segments: 271, 29, 54, 73, 82, and 88
- Pavement Markings of County Roads 1, 16, 19, 20, 4, 43, 48, 74, 78, 8 and 96.
Map of Rice County Highway Dept. 2023 Maintenance & Construction Plan: https://arcg.is/1i80mT0
Project bidding
Rice County only solicits by public notice for transportation project bids on the Rice County webpage and eAdvert website. Find more information about Rice County project advertisements and bidding here.
Online permits
Available through GeoPermits online services:
- Oversized/overweight Transportation permits
- Work in Right-of-Way permits (non-utility companies)
Note that a 2.9% service charge and 30¢ per transaction fee applies to all electronic transactions.
Downloadable permits
- Adopt-a-Highway
- Directional sign permit
- Driveway permit
- Excavator/Operators notice
- Excess ROW policy
- Mailbox specifications
- Tile line procedure
- Utility permit
Mail a paper copy of the completed permit application and applicable fee to
Rice County Highway Department
610 20th St.
Faribault MN 55021
Note: An electronic copy (pdf) of the completed permit application can be sent to [email protected]. Applicable fees should be mailed to the address above.
Transportation Improvement Plan
Rice County’s 2023-32 Transportation Improvement Plan, approved Feb. 14, 2023, by the Board of Commissioners, has been called a “living, breathing document.” As such, it’s subject to change.
Other, more pressing local transportation needs, funding concerns and even inclement weather or soil conditions can lead to the acceleration or delay of a road or bridge project.
A good transportation plan like Rice County’s identifies needs in all corners of the county as well as potential funding sources, ties potential projects into state and local system improvements as part of an overall transportation plan, and prioritizes those in a way that helps ensure vehicles can move safely and efficiently on all 428 miles of county roads.
Rice County’s Transportation Improvement Plan includes projects overseen by the county engineer and the Highway Department staff: County State Aid Highways (sometimes referred to as CSAHs), and county roads and bridges. The state of Minnesota, cities and townships are each responsible for maintaining their own transportation network.
Before potential projects included in the 2023-32 plan can begin, they must be authorized by the Board of Commissioners. Bids are then let and later awarded to the firm with the lowest bid.
Typically, bids are awarded by mid-spring so work can begin by early May. This allows contractors to take advantage of the entire construction season, which ends in mid-November.
2025 Transportation Plan
Click here to view Rice County's 2025 Transportation Plan.
Applicable credit card fees not included.
- How does my group Adopt a Highway?
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Please visit our
- Where do I find road related permit applications?
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You can find PDF versions of permit applications on the Highway Department web page under the
- How do I find out about State road construction and road closures?
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To view the current State road construction and road closures, please use the following visit the
- Who should I report a sign down to?
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Contact the Highway Department at 507-332-6110. For hours of operation, refer to the Highway Directory.
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Dennis Luebbe
Highway Engineer
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Highway
Physical Address
Rice County Highway Department
610 20th St. NW
Faribault, MN 55021
Phone: 507-332-6110Fax: 507-332-8335
Northfield: 507-645-9576
Lonsdale: 507-744-5185
Toll Free: 888-200-4807
___________________Minnesota transportation websites
• Minnesota 511 Travel Information
• Minnesota Department of Transportation
• MnDOT District 6 - Southeast Minnesota region