About the project

Hwy 10 is a major recreational highway linking the Twin Cities metro area to northern Minnesota. Current daily traffic volumes vary from 6,500 between Little Falls and Motley to 34,500 near Elk River. Recreational peak daily volumes can greatly exceed these numbers. Traffic is anticipated to continue to increase beyond 2030.

Current MnDOT District 3 projects to address pavement preservation, safety and capacity needs on this corridor include:

• Resurfacing westbound lanes with an unbonded concrete overlay between Big Lake and Clear Lake to improve pavement conditions. Additional information is available at http://www.dot.state.mn.us/d3/newsrels/12/Hwy10clearlaketobiglake.pdf
• Constructing a new interchange over Benton CR 2 in Rice to improve safety and reduce congestion at an at-grade intersection with a history of severe and fatal crashes.

In addition, the city of Staples received a TIGER grant to construct a new airport road bridge over Hwy 10 and the BNSF railroad tracks in Staples, where a pair of at-grade crossings serves an average of 52 trains per day. The bridge and roadway will also incorporate a 10-foot pedestrian/bicycle trail along the entire length of project, providing access for non-motorized users traveling between the north and south parts of the city.

Project benefits

These projects will increase safety and reduce congestion.