A pair of high-priority, big-ticket items are in the running for what could be nearly $1 billion in state funding for public construction projects.

Minnesota State University is requesting $32.9 million for additions and upgrades to Trafton Hall, and the Minnesota Department of Transportation wants $18.2 million for a new, thrice-denied District Headquarters Facility.

The problem in both current facilities, officials say, is that a lack of space is fueling safety concerns.

Michael Cooper, media relations director at MSU, called Trafton Hall “seriously deteriorated” and in need of new laboratory space.

Rep. Bob Gunther (R-Fairmont) said he toured the science hall and found unsafe conditions, including weak exhaust fans in chemistry labs.

“Unlike most businesses when someone gets injured or killed, (MSU) President (Richard) Davenport pulls out his checkbook and he writes a check,” he said. “That’s taxpayers’ money.”

Trafton Hall is the highest-priority single project for all of Minnesota’s State Colleges and Universities. It received about $3 million last year in planning funding.

That money indicates that the overall project has support with the legislature, said Rep. John Dorn (DFL-Mankato).

Likewise, the new headquarters building is the number one priority for MnDOT.

It was first turned down in 2002, then again in 2004 and finally in this year’s session.

The first request was for $14 million, but it has grown due to inflation and costs of supplies, said Jim Swanson, engineer for District 7, which covers 13 counties in southwestern Minnesota, including Blue Earth.

Swanson is hopeful that MnDOT’s high prioritization will help.

The current, 17-acre building was built in 1963 and has been outgrown by transportation upgrades in the area and the larger and more numerous vehicles needed to support the changes, Swanson said.

For example, a snowplow required 384 square feet of storage space when the facility was built. Now, the vehicles require 624 square feet.

Swanson said no one has been hurt yet, but he’s worried about it.