During the 2017 National Regional Transportation Conference, Nicole Griensewic Mickelson shared the story of collaboration that led to Highway 169 improvements in Minnesota. This transportation project addressed resilience and economic development.
4. Nearly 70% of workers that live in Mankato-North Mankato MSA,
work in the Mankato-North Mankato MSA
11.1% (4,396 workers) commute to the Twin Cities for work
11. “It was a nightmare any time it flooded and you had to detour. You’re talking miles out of
route, late deliveries, late pickups, angry customers and added expenses.
- Wade Volk, Volk Transfer
“Highway 169 is a major vein, if you will, connecting the agriculture growing in southwestern
Minnesota to the markets in the Cities. The floods were definitely a hassle because
it’s essentially our duty to get our commodities there,
so the extra miles and time came directly out of our pocket.”
- Brady Gaaswyk, Gaalswyk Brothers Trucking Co.
15. • Economic Development Significance of
“Location”: The region’s location places it close
to agricultural raw materials and midwestern
markets. An excellent highway system provides
connectivity to the adjacent Minneapolis/St.
Paul metropolitan area. These characteristics
all influence aspects of the region’s economy.
• Infrastructure – Continued development of the
region’s infrastructure is critical. Widening of
truck barring roads, lengthening airport landing
strips, and reinforcement of bridges are critical
to moving products through the region.
17. Three major goals:
1. Minimize (or eliminate) flooding
2. Improve safety - reduce cross-median crashes
3. Economic development funding opportunity
18.
19.
20.
21. Private
Sector
JOBS
500$10,000,000
Private Investments
“This announcement is great news for the region and for our state and will help attract
investment in the region. These funds will go a long way to improve critical transportation
infrastructure so that Minnesota’s farmers and businesses can continue to use Highway 169
even during severe flooding”
- U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar
“Highway 169 is critical to the movement of goods throughout south central Minnesota. I’ve
seen firsthand what happens when floodwaters make it impassable and it’s not something we
can afford to repeat. This is a smart, forward-looking investment that will help make sure
Highway 169, and the economy of the region, isn’t disrupted by future floods.
I’m very glad we’re finally going to get this done.”
- U.S. Senator Al Franken
“Highway 169 is a vital corridor for southern Minnesota families and businesses and is in dire
need of repair. This is a smart investment that will rebuild critical infrastructure, create good-
paying jobs, and help Minnesota’s economy grow. I’ve advocated for this project and am
pleased it was chosen by the EDA on its merits.”
- U.S. Congressman Tim Walz
25. 3D Model of the 100-Year High Water Flood Event with the Proposed Roadway
26.
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30. As a member of the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation, I understand that
reliable transportation infrastructure is invaluable
to the economic growth of a region. Communities
along this corridor rely on Highway 169 for
commerce and the safe movement of people
throughout the region and to other parts of the
state and nation.
- U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar
Notes de l'éditeur
Hwy 169 flood damage from the 2012 road closure
This area produces almost half of Minnesota’s corn, soybeans and ethanol, which makes Minnesota third in the nation for production among all states.
In addition, transportation is essential for the thousands of manufacturing, retail, wholesale and agricultural businesses in Minnesota. It acts as a lifeline for moving raw materials to manufacturing facilities, farm produce to processing facilities and markets, and finished products to distributors or customers. It is important to enhance the movement of people and freight between regional trade centers within Minnesota by providing efficient, multimodal transportation connections. Travel between regional trade centers is important for citizens and businesses throughout the state. Strong transportation connections link workers with jobs, raw materials with manufacturers, and recreational users with parks and natural resource areas. Transportation is a key ingredient to community livability and local economic development. Local governments must carefully consider and address the transportation needs and implications of their land use and community development decisions.
Minimize (or eliminate) flooding
Road has closed 4 of the last 5 years (2010, 2011, 2012, 2014)
Each time the road is closed traffic is detoured County Road 13. These are emergency detours with no accommodation to mitigate the additional volumes or prepare the public.
When water covers the road there is risk of severe damage such as occurred on Hwy 169 north of Saint Peter in 2010.
2. Improve Safety - Reduce Cross-Median Crashes
38 cross-median type crashes over the past ten years.
Crash Type: 8 head-on, 4 sideswipe opposing, & 26 run off – left
Crash Severity: 2 were fatal, 4 were non-incapacitating injury, & 6 were possible injury. 26 were property damage only.
3. Enhance Economic Development Funding Opportunity
The Regional Development Commission identified an opportunity and partnered with MnDOT to obtain a $9.8 million grant for the flood mitigation from the Federal Economic Development Administration.
Bolton & Menk, Inc. used the 3D modeling software Corridor Modeler by Bentley to develop 3D surfaces for all sections of the roadway. We were able to reach a level of accuracy not typically achieved with traditional alignments, profiles, and cross sections. The design team also analyzed the design through innovative 3D visualizations. Examples include a 3D analysis of the stopping sight distance around a proposed median concrete barrier on a superelevated curve (Figure C); and a model replicating a 100-year flood event verified the proposed freeboard of the roadway (Figure D). The 3D design information was also easily transferred to the contractor who used it for stakeless grading of the select granular, aggregate base, pavement bottom, and final slope grading surfaces.
In addition to the stakeless grading surfaces, the concrete pavement was constructed using a stringless paving process. This process was achieved by extracting 3D polylines at each lane line from the design and setting up adjacent control stations in the field to communicate with the concrete paver (Figure B). By providing the paving contractor the extracted 3D polylines from Corridor Modeler directly, we achieved far greater accuracy than standard roadway design methods. This process allowed the paving machine to travel along virtual edges.
Although stringless paving is relatively new to Minnesota construction, it has been used extensively in neighboring states and across the country. To date, there have been few stringless concrete paving projects in Minnesota; all were constructed by out-of-state contractors. Stringless paving technology allowed the contractor to be ready for paving in any area of the corridor, within hours, not days, because they were no longer reliant on surveyors to set up stringlines days in advance.
New technologies and innovative processes were essential to completing this project in an aggressive eight-month timeframe—with only 18 weeks under a full closure and detour. MnDOT, the consultant staff, and the contractor representatives worked together to provide the necessary design data, survey control, and machine control expertise to deliver this critical infrastructure and economic improvement project. This project has set a precedent. Future projects must strive to implement new design and construction technologies in an effort to improve design and construction outcome
