In July, 18 summer interns from the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and Ramsey County visited the MnROAD facility—a test track made up of various research materials and pavements—near Albertville for a workshop hosted by the Minnesota Local Road Research Board (LRRB).
The interns, participants in MnDOT’s Civil Engineering Student Worker Program and the Ramsey County Planning Internship, toured MnROAD’s test track and learned about the facility’s current construction projects. They also heard presentations on research projects funded by the LRRB and MnDOT that are working to improve bicycle facility design, pavement resilience, and snowplow safety in Minnesota.
Then, in a panel discussion and networking session, the interns received valuable insights on building a local agency career from city and county professionals across the state. Andrew Witter, public works director and county engineer with Sherburne County, facilitated the session. Panelists included Jake Meyer, assistant county surveyor, Sherburne County; Matthew Leonard, public works director and count engineer, City of Monticello; Sarah Schweiger, engineering services manager, City of St. Louis Park; and Jodi Teich, county engineer, Stearns County.