Transportation Plans

Transportation Improvement Plan

Sign shopRice 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 County Engineer Dennis Luebbe and the Highway Department staff, typically County State Aid Highways (sometimes referred to as CSAHs) and county 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.