From an early age, Joel Carlson was fascinated by roads, maps, and traffic control. While most kids focused on road trips as a means to a destination, Joel was captivated by the way roads were designed and how traffic flowed—especially through work zones. He would analyze traffic setups, question their efficiency, and even suggest his own improvements. Family trips through the I-494/I-35W interchange only fueled his passion, as he tried to explain congestion issues and potential solutions to his parents.
Now, as a transportation engineer in training, Joel has turned his childhood curiosity into a career. One of the most exciting aspects of his job is learning about the intricate details that go into roadway design. He has developed a deep appreciation for the planning and problem-solving that shape the roads we drive on every day.
Among the many projects he has worked on, the TH 53 UBOL project north of Duluth stands out as both the most challenging and the most rewarding. The fast-paced timeline and limited staffing made it a demanding task, but it was also the moment Joel finally saw his dream come to life, creating a traffic control plan. The experience was far more complex than he imagined, but he embraced the challenge and loved every moment of it.
Looking ahead, Joel sees AI playing a significant role in engineering. He believes advancements in technology will streamline design processes, allowing engineers to complete complex computations faster and improve overall efficiency. His advice to aspiring engineers? Stay curious, embrace challenges, and never stop questioning how things can be improved, just like he did as a kid.