For Joel Carlson, engineering started with curiosity. A lifelong fascination with roads, maps, and how transportation systems come together led him to constantly ask, “Why was this designed this way?” Today, transportation engineering allows him to explore those questions every day while helping shape how communities move and connect.
One project that stands out most is the TH 25 corridor between Buffalo and Monticello. Being involved from preliminary concepts through final design gave Joel a full understanding of how engineering ideas evolve into infrastructure that people rely on daily.
During Engineers Week, Joel encourages aspiring engineers to embrace challenges and keep learning. Engineering often involves trial and error, and growth comes from pushing through obstacles rather than avoiding them.
Joel believes transportation projects make a meaningful difference by improving mobility and accessibility across the Twin Cities, helping communities stay connected.
