Overview
The completed study examined safety and access on Highway 52 from the southern limits of Cannon Falls to south of the Highway 57 junction and determined a recommended location for an Highway 52 interchange in the vicinity of County Road 1 and County Road 9. The study also included related roadway network and access management improvements within the project vicinity.
Location
- Hwy 52 from southern Cannon Falls to junction of Hwy 57 and the adjacent local roadway network
Schedule
- Planning Study: Complete – December 2012
Cost
-
TBD - no funding source identified yet
Traffic impacts
No traffic impacts at this time. The current study identified a recommended alternative. No timetable for implementation has been set.
Description
Over the past several months, the Minnesota Department of Transportation, Goodhue County and township officials from Leon, Stanton, and Cannon Falls Townships have partnered to study options for addressing safety and access concerns along Highway 52 between Hader and the southern limits of Cannon Falls in Goodhue County. This includes evaluating options for:
- Location of a future interchange in the vicinity of County Road 1 or County Road 9
- Access closure to Highway 52 at County Road 14 and rerouting County Road 14 to the north
- Long-term access management options
Study conclusions
This study was the first step in the project development process. Once project funding is secured, further refinement of alternatives will occur. This will include additional public input opportunities. The results of the current study which included detailed technical evaluation and public engagement are:
- Future interchange recommended at County Road 9
- Recommended backage road connecting County Road 14 to Cannon Falls
- Recommended use of 100th Avenue for a future north-south connection between County Road 1 and County Road 9 as needed
An access management overview for the corridor was also developed as part of the study. This includes a range of potential improvement options which support MnDOT and Goodhue County’s long-term vision to convert Highway 52 into a freeway. Potential access management improvements include median closures, redirected driveways, and frontage/backage roads which could be implemented as needed based on safety and funding availability.
Project benefits
- Improve safety and mobility on Hwy 52 at County Road 1 and County Road 9
- Improve safety and mobility for local traffic circulation
- Removal of approximately 29 at-grade access points from Hwy 52
- Move "Hwy 52 Vision" closer to its goal of a fully access controlled freeway
Next steps
The Hwy 52 Safety, Access, and Interchange Location Study concluded in December 2012. The purpose of this planning-level study was to begin the project development process so that project implementation can be expedited once project funding has been secured. As no funding sources have been identified, there is no set timeline for this project.
The next steps in the project development process are to secure funding, begin environmental evaluation/preliminary design, complete final design, and construction. The project development process is illustrated in chart below.
