Plan Images
- Project map (JPG, 28k)
- Artist's visualization (PDF, 624k)
- Planter (PDF, 728 K)
- Plan view
- Intersection areas
- Trees in the median (PDF, 31k)
More Links
Background
Highway 169 (Minnesota Avenue) is a high priority interregional corridor between Mankato and the Twin Cities that carries heavy truck traffic and an increasing amount of commuter traffic. In St. Peter, Highways 22 and 99 and numerous city streets intersect Highway 169. The highway forms the city’s main street through the central business district is also an historic district. The U.S. Highway 169 Corridor Management Plan (May 2002) identified several issues within St. Peter and along the corridor.
Issues:
The combination of through traffic, local traffic and pedestrians in Saint Peter results in reduced traffic speeds, operational difficulties at some intersections, safety problems, and pedestrian access/safety issues. The pavement and municipal utilities under the highway are very old. Furthermore, the dual uses of the highway as an interregional corridor and as a main street through an historic central business district which are potentially in conflict.
Traffic Volume:
Traffic in 2004 ranged from 13,600 vehicles per day south of St. Peter, to 25,000 in town, to 15,700 north of the city. The Corridor Management Plan forecasts volumes of 15,800 vehicles per day south of St. Peter and 20,400 north of the city by 2025. A detailed analysis of future traffic in St. Peter is now being conducted.
Safety:
The Corridor Management Plan cites the segment from Union Street to Highway 295 in St. Peter as needing safety improvements. Over 100 crashes occurred in the past three years in this 1 ½ miles.
Study Areas:
Several potential projects to improve traffic flow and safety were identified:
- Downtown Raised Median – a wide median will provide a refuge in the middle of the highway so pedestrians need only cross two lanes at a time. Medians also provide a space for aesthetic treatments that will enhance the appearance of the historic downtown. They also improve vehicle safety by reducing the number of conflict locations. Sidewalk Bumpouts – sidewalks that project out into the parking lane at street corners will make it easier for pedestrians to see oncoming traffic and reduce the distance over which they are exposed to traffic.
- Highway 22 Intersection Studies – A traffic study was undertaken to investigate possible improvements to the intersection of Highways 169 and 22 at the south and north ends of the city. A signal will be installed at the south intersection.
- St. Peter Bypass – The Corridor Management Plan identified three potential bypass alternatives. Significant environmental and engineering studies are needed before a preferred alternative is selected. The high cost of a bypass ($150 million) make a project unlikely within 20 years.