New drivers will need to go through inconvenience to get their licenses, after the state union strike closed down the driver’s license examination station in Albert Lea.

Thursday, October 04, 2001

New drivers will need to go through inconvenience to get their licenses, after the state union strike closed down the driver’s license examination station in Albert Lea.

A notice announcing the temporary close was placed at the examination station in the courthouse.

Written exams are available in Rochester, and some other locations might be available for road exams in the next week according to the State Department of Public Safety.

Normally, the station is open every Thursday and Friday for both written and driving exams. The department maintains the Rochester center to be available for written exams between 9 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. weekdays. The agency said there would be more stations open next week and asked citizens to call (651) 297-2005 for updated information.

Services for license renewal and vehicle registration at the adjacent Freeborn License Center are not subject to the strike since the county operates the office. But car owners will have to wait longer period to get their titles, because the center holds applications for a vehicle title to be sent to the state agency.

Meanwhile, construction on state roads in the county is not affected by the strike.

Two current projects, on I-35 and Main Street, are contracted out and involve no state union workers, according to the State Department of Transportation. According to the department, only 5 out of 90 road construction projects statewide are stalled by the strike.