In a gesture of mutual respect and recognition, MnDOT awarded Rice County and County Engineer Dennis Luebbe the 2025 Partnership Award for their contributions to state transportation collaboration. This accolade, as reported by the Rice County announcement, highlights the county's role in developing a robust transportation infrastructure.
During an Aug. 12 meeting with the Board of Commissioners, District 6 Transportation Engineer Mark Schoenfelder of MnDOT emphasized the strength of Rice County's partnership. Schoenfelder, in a praise of commitment, specifically lauded Luebbe's persistent advocacy for the county's transportation interests "as well as looking out for transportation as a whole and within the region." With Luebbe at the helm for 24 years, the county has seen significant improvements, including the completion of a critical roundabout and the ongoing development of frontage roads flanking Interstate 35.
Rice County's efforts have not gone unnoticed, with substantial projects like the paving of County Road 46/Hazelwood Avenue wrapping up this fall. This effort completes a series of frontage roads that not only offer alternate north/south travel but are also anticipated to spur local commercial and industrial growth.
In 2024, Rice County came into the limelight for constructing a six-legged roundabout at the I-35/Hwy. 19 interchange, deemed a safety milestone. Luebbe's ingenious funding strategy, piecing together finances from five different sources,, expedited what would typically be a state-managed project. This is a testament to Luebbe's ability to proactively forward county infrastructure projects, an aspect well-received by local and state officials alike, including State Sen. John Jasinski who praised the efforts: "These guys are great assets to have here in Rice County," he told the commissioners. "You guys should be grateful."
Luebbe's collaborations are far-reaching, from working with municipal leaders in Faribault on a new I-35 interchange to road projects in Dundas and Northfield. According to a government spokesperson, his work continues to align city, township, and state agencies towards a cohesive transportation vision for the county and the entire region.
