MANKATO, Minn. (FOX 9) – Governor Tim Walz is set to announce details of the state-wide infrastructure plan on Thursday.
Minnesota 2025 infrastructure plan
What we know:
The governor will unveil the 2025 infrastructure plan at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday in the Mankato area.
The proposal is expected to include about $10 million to help rebuild the Rapidan Dam in Blue Earth County, which suffered a partial failure following heavy rain and flooding in June 2024.
The governor’s office said his bonding proposal will focus on creating jobs, protecting drinking water and keeping communities safe. A new Minnesota State Patrol headquarters is also expected to be included in the plan, along with money for flooding prevention.
Rapidan Dam funding
Rapidan Dam before and after satellite images
Credit: Maxar Technologies via Storyful. Satellite imagery shows the Rapidan Dam on south central Minnesota’s Blue Earth River before and after the dam experienced a partial failure.
The backstory:
Storms and consistent rain brought widespread flooding across Minnesota last summer. Blue Earth County was one of dozens of counties in the state that President Joe Biden approved for a major disaster declaration. Â
Among the areas that were damaged in Blue Earth County was the area around the Rapidan Dam, which suffered a partial failure on June 24, 2024, resulting in a house along the Blue Earth River, near the dam, falling into the river. The Dam Store was then demolished after it couldn’t be saved.
Crews recently started demolishing the County 9 Bridge, located just south of the dam, after the area suffered from erosion. Here is a recap of the Rapidan Dam situation.Â
What’s next:
Additional details about the infrastructure plan will be released by the governor on Thursday.
Bridge by Rapidan Dam being demolished [RAW]
The Rapidan Dam in south central Minnesota suffered a partial failure due to flooding on the Blue Earth River in June of 2024. Officials previously said there was concern about the County Road 9 bridge, located just south of the dam, due to erosion. SkyFOX captured crews working to demolish the bridge on Jan. 7, 2025.