Highway 23 Coalition
The Highway 23 Coalition has named Bob Byrnes as the Coalition Coordinator. As Coordinator, Byrnes will work with the Coalition Board of Directors and its members for the mission, vision, and action plans of the Highway 23 Coalition. The Highway 23 Coalition advocates for a four-lane highway from Interstate 35 in northeast Minnesota to Interstate 90 in the Southwest corner of the state. Highway 23 extends nearly 334 miles from northeastern Minnesota to the southwest connecting Duluth to the greater Sioux Falls, South Dakota region passing through the regional centers of St. Cloud, Willmar, and Marshall.
Highway 23 Coalition Board Chair, Donna Boonstra stated, “the addition of a coordinator and with over 100 members we are committed to the advancement of the Coalition and to facilitate increased freight traffic, improve mobility and safety on the Corridor. Making Highway 23 a continuous 4-lane highway will reduce congestion in the Twin Cities Metro Area and change the lives of so many residents and people traveling through our great state.”
Coordination support has previously been provided by the Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission. EDC Joint Powers Board Chair and Willmar City Council member Kathy Schwantes said “the EDC has provided support as the Highway 23 Coalition organized and it is now at a point to have its own Coordinator. As a community, county and region we have a continued interest in the success of the Highway 23 Coalition”.
Byrnes is mayor of the City of Marshall and recently retired from a 40-year career with the University of Minnesota Extension where he served as Statewide Director of Operations.