Jim Grube, Director of Transportation and County Engineer

The Transportation Department administers all functions associated with the county highway system.  The department's mission is to develop, operate, and maintain a safe, effective county highway system. 

The Director of Transportation is also the Hennepin County Engineer, a position which is appointed by Statute every four years by the County Board.

Administration Division
Jim Grube, Director

The mission of the administration division is to assure the effective delivery of transportation related services in accordance with County Board policy and governing Statutes. This division is responsible for communicating the goals of the Public Works Strategic Plan throughout the department and for coordinating the diverse activities to achieve those goals. This division is also responsible for analysis of federal and state legislation and for recommending courses of action to Public Works's Administration.

Construction Division
Harlan Hanson, Division Manager

The mission of the Construction Division is to provide contract administration for the County’s Transportation Capital Improvement Program in a manner that insures the proper execution of contracts and assures quality workmanship and materials: reflecting resourceful, innovative and ethical values to insure the citizens affected by the projects are treated with sensitivity and respect. We are value added.

General Construction Division Information Call at (612) 596-0341

Engineering Staff:
    Dan Allmaras, Senior Project Engineer
    Paul Backer, Senior Project Engineer
    Don Shaffer, Senior Project Engineer

Design Division
Craig Twinem, Division Manager

The mission of the Design Division is to prepare plans, specifications, cost estimates, agreements, environmental reports, and other necessary documents and data for road, bridge, and traffic signal projects to implement the highway capital improvement program; and to inspect and inventory existing bridges and structures on the county's highway system to ensure the safety and welfare of the traveling public. 

Division Units: The Preliminary and Detail Roadway Design Unit is responsible for preparation of preliminary layouts, conceptual drawings, preliminary cost estimates, detail plans and detail cost estimates. The Specifications and Agreements Unit is responsible for preparing construction specifications, contract documents, and construction cooperative agreements for assigned projects. The Bridge Design Unit is responsible for preparation of bridge and structure plans, construction specifications, cost estimates for assigned projects and bridge inspections. Inspections are conducted on bridges located on county highways, and on city streets and other roadways in municipalities that do not have a city engineer. Structural engineering services are provided for other units in the department when requested.

General Information and Project Design: (612) 596-0361 

Road and Bridge Operations Division
Chris Sagsveen, Division Manager

The mission of the Road and Bridge Operations Division is to operate and maintain the county road and bridge system in a manner that insures safe and convenient use of the system by the traveling public and to implement strategies that optimize the service life of the system. 

Activities: Surface patching, drainage maintenance and improvement, bituminous overlay and bituminous crack sealing programs are used to maximize the useful life of the roadway system. Prompt snow and ice control measures assure safe travel during the winter season. Roadsides are maintained to control noxious weeds, diseased trees, and vegetation. Bridges are monitored and maintained for safety and graffiti removal.

For more information link to Construction Work and Detours which includes information on active asphalt resurfacing projects on the county highway system.

General Roadway Information and Emergency Roadway Maintenance (612) 596-0299.

Traffic Division
Greg Chock, Division Manager

The mission of the Traffic Division is to plan, develop, design, operate and maintain traffic control devices for the county road system in a manner that insures safe, efficient and convenient use of the system for the traveling public and to implement strategies that optimize the Traffic and Arterial Management Systems. Activities: Traffic Engineering and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Programs. Preparation of signal, lighting, interconnect, traffic control, signing and striping plans. Installation and maintenance of traffic signs and pavement markings to provide guidance and control of traffic. Installation and maintenance of traffic signals including coordination of signalized intersections for efficient control and movement of traffic. The Adopt-A-Highway Program uses volunteer groups to pick up litter. The transportation and permit systems aid in protection of the roadway system. Annually in April, the Division hosts an informal public meeting to gather input on the adequacy and effectiveness of the county's storm water pollution prevention program (SWPPP). The SWPPP is essentially a storm water management program that is comprised of the best management practices in support of defined control measures.

Traffic Signal Information: (612)-596-0294
Traffic Sign Information: (612) 596-0310
Intelligent Transportation Systems Information: (612) 596-0365
Adopt-A-Highway Program Information: (612) 596-0336
Permit Information: (612) 596-0339

Transportation Planning Division
Tom Johnson, Division Manager

The mission of the Transportation Planning Division is to plan and coordinate the development of the county highway system to efficiently provide safe, convenient, and economical movement of people and goods on the county highway system. This division is responsible for county highway system planning, system information and data, project programming, development of the highway capital improvement program, intergovernmental coordination and analysis, and certain areas of public information. 

Activities: Activities in the above areas include system studies, plat reviews, revocation/designation of county highways, municipal coordination, Minnesota Department of Transportation coordination, system inventory, general transportation information, traffic flow map production, various in-house maps for items such as speed zones, railroad crossings, etc., accident information and evaluation of safety improvements, traffic and accident analysis including various traffic studies, federal project applications, legislative reviews, administration of the state aid program and the County Aid to Municipalities program, participation in various technical and professional committees, production of the Hennepin County highway map, and answering public inquiries. 

Review and comment by the county is required on all proposed plats adjacent to county roads prior to approval by the municipality. Call the plat review number listed below for more information. Additional work has also been done to prepare the Hennepin County Bicycle Transportation Plan, and the Hennepin County Transportation Systems Plan (HC-TSP).

General Information: (612) 596-0351
Project Planning: (612) 596-0394
Plat Review: (612) 596-0354
Traffic Counts: (612) 596-0356
Highway Map Distribution: (612) 596-0352
Transportation Plan or Bike Plan: (612) 596-0354