For the first time in Minnesota’s history, all state road construction work came to a complete stop after the deaths of two contractors in separate tragic incidents. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) called for a “safety stand down” on Monday, September 29, halting work statewide to honor the workers and to remind everyone of the risks faced by those who build and maintain the state’s roads.
The two contractors lost their lives just one day apart. The first was killed on September 24 in Burnsville, followed by another fatal incident on September 25 in Maple Grove. Both men were on the job, doing the kind of work that millions of Minnesotans drive past every day. Their sudden and heartbreaking deaths brought an emotional pause to crews, supervisors, and transportation leaders who wanted to reflect on what had happened and recommit themselves to safety.
Nancy Daubenberger, the Commissioner of MnDOT, said the decision to pause work was not taken lightly. She explained that the department felt it was necessary to stop everything for a moment, both to honor the victims and to refocus on the responsibility that comes with road construction. “I am deeply saddened and concerned by the recent tragic incidents that took the lives of two contractors working to improve Minnesota roads,” she said. “Today, MnDOT staff took an unprecedented step to pause work and honor the lives of these two men and to recommit and focus on the safety of every person who works for and with our agency. Safety is always our number one priority at MnDOT, and we will continue to work closely with our staff and contractors to improve our work zones to help ensure we all get home to our families safely.”
The loss of life also moved the Minnesota State Patrol to speak out. Colonel Christina Bogojevic reminded drivers that work zones are not just stretches of cones, flashing lights, and barriers, but places where real people are working to keep roads safe and efficient. “Every crash is more than a statistic — it’s a family changed forever,” she said. “Work zones are places where Minnesotans are on the job, not just cones and signs on the road. We need every driver to slow down, pay attention and treat those areas with extra care. The safety of our workers and of everyone traveling on our roads depends on it.”
The call for respect and caution in work zones is not new, but these back-to-back tragedies highlighted just how urgent it is. Construction workers are among the most vulnerable groups on the road. They spend long hours in unpredictable environments, surrounded by fast-moving vehicles, heavy machinery, and shifting conditions. Even a moment of distraction from a driver can lead to devastating outcomes.
MnDOT and the State Patrol are urging motorists to be more mindful every time they approach a work zone. Drivers are reminded to obey posted speed limits, remain alert, put down their phones, and slow down when passing workers. They also stress the importance of following “move over” laws, which require drivers to change lanes or give extra space whenever they see construction workers or emergency responders on the side of the road.
The message behind the safety stand down was clear: lives depend on how drivers behave when they approach roadwork areas. For construction crews, every day on the job comes with risks, but with drivers’ cooperation and focus, those risks can be reduced. The pause in work was a way for MnDOT and its partners to take a step back, honor those lost, and renew their commitment to making sure every worker makes it home at the end of the day.
The tragedy has left a mark on the construction community, reminding everyone — officials, workers, and drivers alike — that safety is not just a slogan but a responsibility that requires constant attention. For the families of the two men who died, the pain is immeasurable. For their coworkers, it is a sobering reminder of what is at stake. And for the rest of Minnesota, it is a call to action: to slow down, to pay attention, and to treat every road construction zone with the seriousness it deserves.
