District 4 Overview

Safety

When it comes to safety District 4’s strategy is very proactive. The District is currently installing edge-line rumble stripes on many rural roads and have rumble stripe projects planned through 2013. There are currently edge line rumble strips/stripes on over 1,200 miles of the 1,900 lane miles in the district. The district is also adding over 100 miles of edge line stripes/strips per year.

In addition, the district dedicates approximately $1 million per year to safety improvements that are incorporated into our pavement projects. These improvements may include: pavement markings, sign enhancements, right turn lanes, left turn lanes, access management, intersection lighting, rumble stripes/strips, sign updates, wet reflective lines, chevrons and delineators, profile stripes and new guardrail installation.

2011 safety improvements include installing the district’s first roundabout south of Moorhead on Hwy 75; installing a traffic signal at the intersection of Hwy 10 and Hwy 9; installing warning systems at four rural intersections and converting the two-way stop at Hwy 34 and Hwy 9 to a four-way stop intersection.

Mobility

District 4’s mobility investment strategy is to partner with cities and counties to study the transportation network of a problematic area. The district works cooperatively with them to develop a transportation system that includes both safety and mobility improvements, concentrating on projects that have low costs but high benefits. There are also several access management projects in the works that will make mobility improvements between trade centers.

Innovation

MnDOT District 4 has become involved in several flood-related projects to protect the highway infrastructure in our area. These projects include an outlet project along Hwy 59 in Otter Tail County, demolition of the Lake Iverson Rest Area, several grade raises and several culvert repair and replacements.

The District took the lead on a hydrologic study and outlet project last spring along Hwy 59 in Otter Tail County. Sand Lake was a closed basin lake that continued to rise during the region’s wet cycle over the last 10 years, repeatedly causing safety hazards on Hwy 59. Since the water was directly threatening the highway infrastructure and the area is not located within a watershed district MnDOT worked with the DNR, Otter Tail county and surrounding townships to come up with a solution. It was an opportunity to look at different options that would benefit not only the highway infrastructure, but also the environment. During the hydrologic study, four alternatives were developed and MnDOT held a series of meetings to gather input from the public.

The alternative that was selected was construction of an outlet from Sand Lake to Prairie Lake, approximately 1.5 miles to the south. Though the alternative was not the lowest cost, the project was primarily located within existing MnDOT right of way and was the most beneficial for all parties. It was the first time MnDOT had ever taken the lead on an outlet project and it has proven to be very successful.

Leadership

• Minnesota Asphalt Pavement Association Re-Construction Merit Award for the 2011 Hwy 27 cold in-place recycle resurfacing project between Herman and Hoffman.
• Concrete Paving Association of Minnesota Concrete Overlays Merit Award for the 2011 I-94 concrete overlay project between Barnesville and Downer.
• National Asphalt Pavement Association Quality in Construction Award for the 2011 Hwy 9 resurfacing project between the Clay/Norman county line and Hwy 10.

Transparency

District 4 has been partnering with various local government agencies, community organizations and private corporations to get the most value out of transportation and accessibility projects for taxpayer dollars. Several transportation and community planning studies in the last five years have been conducted in cooperation with cities, counties and other government agencies. The district strategy on community and economic development projects is to work with local governments and other agencies to obtain both economic and highway benefits as part of projects.