Highway 169 in St. Peter - Minnesota Department of Transportation

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Frequently Asked Questions

Design

What will Hwy 169 (Minnesota Avenue) look like when it is done?
When completed, Hwy 169 will have two lanes of general traffic in each direction with raised medians between Elm and Chestnut. The medians will be landscaped between Elm and Walnut (trees and grass) and will have raised planters between Mulberry and Broadway. There will be on-street parking with pedestrian bumpouts at the intersections between Walnut and Broadway. The street lighting and other fixtures will be consistent with the historic character of downtown. All trees in the downtown area will be Locust. Existing trees will remain in the residential areas outside downtown. Artist's visualization

Will the road be widened?
The road will be widened by one foot on each side between Jefferson and Walnut. It will not be widened between Walnut and Broadway. Just north of Broadway, the road will be narrowed by about six feet but widened by two feet at the intersection with Chestnut. The width will transition down to the current dimension between Chestnut and Chatham. It will not be widened between Chatham and Union.

Will the sidewalk be moved closer to my house?
No. Where deterioration and utility work result in a need for sidewalk removal, it will be replaced at its current width in its current location.

Will there be a sidewalk connecting to the trail at Union?
Yes, a sidewalk connection to the trail will be constructed as a part of the Hwy 169 project.

Will the trees be cut down along Minnesota Avenue and, if so, will they be replaced?
All trees in the downtown commercial district have been removed because the road is being widened by one foot on each side and the entire sidewalk is being reconstructed.. These trees will be replaced with Locust trees. Locust was selected as the preferred species, in consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office, because the leaf size and formation provides higher visibility of the buildings along the street. All existing trees in the residential areas will remain.

Why build medians?
Raised medians are extremely effective at improving the safety of pedestrians crossing wide roadways because the pedestrian can deal with traffic from one direction at a time and has a safe refuge in the center. They are also effective at calming traffic by reducing the wide open feeling of the road. Vehicle crashes are also reduced because the medians limit the number of points where left turns can be made. Left turns cause more accidents than any other type of vehicle turns.

Why build bumpouts?
Bumpouts reduce the distance pedestrians are exposed to vehicle traffic and improve the visibility both of the pedestrian and the approaching traffic by placing the curb out about even with the line of parked cars.

Why not build medians between intersections and leave cross streets open – at least to left turning traffic?
One block medians have the benefit of separating opposing traffic streams and eliminating mid-block left turns. Additional benefits are gained, however, when the medians are more than one block long. The further reduced left turn locations will result in fewer crashes. The wide median provides a pedestrian refuge at the intersections that have a median through them. Also, because the left turn lanes would be back-to-back, the resulting six foot wide median would not be sufficient to allow plantings or other vertical features that are most important for a traffic calming effect.

Why not build medians north of Chatham?
Although proposed as part of a long-term plan, the 2009 reconstruction project will not include medians north of Chatham because the pavement under the shoulders is not adequate to support the traffic lands that would be shifted onto it. This was the case south of Walnut too, but extensive utility replacement needs are causing the need for pavement reconstruction in this area.

Why does Grace Street have a median through it?
During earlier project development, one of the options was to have a median from Walnut to Grace and from Grace to Broadway. There was a concern that too many streets in the downtown were being closed off to left turns. Also, although Grace was formerly classified a collector street, since the extension of Broadway to the west, the goal has been to shift the traffic off Grace and onto Broadway.

How will the medians and bumpouts affect snow removal?
These features, while great for safety, make snow removal more difficult. The snow will continue to be plowed from the center to the outside of the roadway where it will need to be loaded and removed. Removal will take extra time as operators need to maneuver around the bumpouts.

Who will maintain the plantings?
The City will have staff maintain the vegetation in the medians.

Why not wait to build a bypass?
A Saint Peter bypass is still decades away with current funding levels. The utility reconstruction, pavement resurfacing, and safety improvements will provide many years of benefits.

Traffic and Signals

Will traffic speed up or slow down?
Raised medians and bumpouts have a traffic calming effect because they decrease a driver’s comfort with high speeds. On the other hand, there will be fewer vehicles slowing down due to conflicting turning vehicles. The combination of these effects is expected to reduce the extremes and bring speeds closer to the posted limits.

Will there be more signals or will signals be moved?
The existing signals will remain in place and a new signal will be added at the south junction with Hwy 22. Two new temporary signals (at the intersection of Hwy 169 and Hwy 22 north and at the intersection of Hwy 99 and Front Street) are operating during construction to help manage detoured traffic. Both of these signals will be removed when construction has been completed.

Will there be signals at Hwy 169 and Hwy 22?
There will be a new signal at the south Hwy 22 intersection but not at the north intersection. This decision was based on a traffic study completed as part of the Hwy 169 Corridor Management Plan. Background

Will there be left turn arrows on the signals?
Yes, all the signals on Hwy 169 will have left turn arrows added. Left turns will be what is called protected-permitted, so that left turns have the right-of-way during the green arrow phase and they are allowed to turn, but must yield to thru traffic on the green ball phase. The side streets will not have left turn arrows.

Will U-Turns be allowed?
Yes, U-turns will be allowed initially. However, if an unanticipated safety problem later develops, they may be restricted.

Detours during construction

Why was Hwy 169 closed and traffic detoured to Washington and Front Streets?
This decision was made for three reasons: (1) construction can be completed much more quickly and safely when traffic does not have to be maintained on the roadway under construction and this reduces economic impacts; (2) underground utilities in the section between Broadway and Jefferson require very deep excavation, essentially required most of the roadway width; and (3) traffic flows more smoothly and predictably on detour routes than through a construction zone.

Why is there a separate truck detour?
Trucks are detoured to Hwy 99, Hwy 22, Co Rd 40 and Co Rd 15 to reduce the number of large trucks using the residential streets that serve as the in-town detour. It was important for the downtown businesses to keep automobile traffic as close to downtown as possible during construction. Detour maps.

Where can I drive across Hwy 169 (Minnesota Avenue)?
Vehicles can drive across Minnesota Avenue (Hwy 169) at Broadway, Mulberry, College and Jefferson. When one of these streets is temporarily closed, an adjacent street will be open to traffic.

Will Front Street be repaired after the project?
Any necessary repairs on Front Street, Washington Avenue or other detour routes will be done after the highway detour is removed.

Utilities

Will the water or sewer line to my house or business be replaced?
Water and sewer main lines are being replaced between Jefferson and Chestnut and between Skaro and Ramsey. If your home/business is in one of these areas, your water service line will need to be replaced if it is a lead pipe and your sewer service line will need to be replaced if it is clay tile. Also, sewer service will be added if your connection is under another person’s house. Contact the City of Saint Peter’s Public Works Department (507-934-0670) if you have further questions.

Will there be utility service disruptions?
There will be limited interruptions to water service when switching over to temporary water service and tying into the new water main line. These will be up to four hours in length. You will be given at least 48 hours notice in advance to prepare for the

interruptions.

Construction Activities

When will construction begin and end?
Construction started in June and most construction will be completed and Hwy 169 will be open to traffic by Thanksgiving. There may be landscaping, tree planting and “punch list” items to complete after that date but Hwy 169 will be reopened by Thanksgiving of this year.

What are normal work hours for the contractor?
Crews are currently working from 6 a.m. to10 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The contractor is also allowed to work on Sundays and may be allowed to do nighttime work when deemed necessary. In general, any work after 9 p.m. will have restrictions to minimize noise levels. Advance notice will be provided to property owners prior to any nighttime work after 10 p.m...

What days of the week with the contractor work?
The contractor is currently working Monday through Saturday. However, the contractor is allowed to work Sundays if needed to maintain the construction schedule. There are also limited restrictions such as avoiding Minnesota Square Park during the Fourth of July and the Rockbend Folk Festival.

Construction impacts

How will deliveries be handled?
Trucks making deliveries may use city streets to reach their destinations. Wherever possible, deliveries should be made from alleys or side streets. If there is a location that can only be accessed from the work zone, the driver will need to contact the project hotline at 507/995-2810.

How will dust be controlled?
Water trucks are run daily in the work zone to spray the soil and control dust. If this does not adequately address the issue, call the hotline at 507/995-2810.

Will there be noise restrictions during construction?
Yes. Mn/DOT has basic noise restrictions required on all projects. Any work done between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. will have additional noise restrictions.

Will the construction activity damage my building or home and, if so, who pays for repairs?
All properties adjacent to the construction zone were surveyed prior to construction. Buildings that were determined to be potentially sensitive to vibration are being monitored during construction. Acceptable vibration limits have been established and cannot be exceeded during construction. The contractor is responsible for ensuring that no damage occurs and will be responsible for paying for any repairs that are a direct result of construction activities.

How will my garbage be picked up?
All residential property owners should continue to put their garbage cans out on the curb at their normal collection time. Waste Management will be allowed access into the work zone to collect the garbage on their regular routes. If they cannot run in the work zone, Shafer Contracting will move the garbage cans to a point where they can be collected and then return them to their curb location. All commercial collection will continue to be from the alleys.

How will I access my home or business during construction?
If there is access to your home or business from the alley or side street, these will be your best options. If the only access to your property is from Hwy 169, a temporary access route to your property will be provided during construction. Walking access over at least a gravel surface will be maintained to those front doors where it is needed except for limited 48-houur periods where work in that space will be necessary. You will receive notification of those times at least one week in advance.

How will emergency services get access to my location when the highway is torn up?
We will maintain contact with emergency service providers during construction so that they are aware of any changes in detours and open streets.

How will the streets and sidewalks be kept clean during construction?
Shafer Contracting has a fulltime street sweeper working on the project. Sidewalks are inspected and swept periodically.

Access to Downtown Businesses

Is parking still available in downtown?
Parking is still permitted on all side streets in downtown. Access to this parking on the east side is available from Front Street. Access to this parking on the west side is available from 3rd Street.

Are sidewalks open to businesses in downtown?
Sidewalks are open to all businesses in downtown. One-half of the width of the sidewalk was removed but the half nearest the buildings remains open and wide enough for a wheelchair. Pedestrian access to buildings will be maintained at all times. Most businesses also have access from the back and/or from side streets.

Where can I walk across Minnesota Avenue?
Pedestrians can walk across Minnesota Avenue (Hwy 169) at Broadway, Mulberry, College and Jefferson. When one of these streets is temporarily closed, an adjacent street will be open.

Can people with disabilities get around downtown?
The sidewalks in downtown are open and are wide enough for a wheelchair. Temporary gravel curb ramps are provided at all crosswalks. Handicapped parking is still provided in approximately the same locations as before construction started.

What business signs are permitted during construction?
One directional sign per business has been placed on the detour routes for each business that has frontage in the area closed for construction. No additional business signs can be placed on the detour routes. Sandwich board signs are not permitted on the sidewalks along Hwy 169 in the area closed for construction to insure that there is adequate space for handicapped access. Sandwich board signs may be placed on the side streets if the business owner has property fronting that street and has obtained the appropriate permits from the city. Mn/DOT has also placed general “to eastside businesses” and “to westside businesses” along the detour routes at the open cross-streets. The city is also placing some general business signs on buildings along the detour routes. Businesses may place signs on their own buildings during construction but these signs will have to be removed after construction is completed. Any signs on private property (e.g., business signs at your back entrance) will be the responsibility of the business and/or property owner.

Project economics and economic impacts

How is the project funded?
The roadway work will be funded by the Economic Stimulus package that Congress passed in February 2009. The City is also seeking Economic Stimulus funding for the utility work. The City may need to bond for some of the utility work.

Will the City assess landowners for any of the work?
There will be no assessment for the roadway or the water/sewer main work. Property owners must pay for the replacement of utility service lines from the main line to the home or business. These costs may be handled through an assessment at the request of the property owner.

How much will the project cost?
The project will cost approximately $16.5 million. This includes the road work, utilities and design and construction engineering.

Will this project result in jobs in Saint Peter?
The direct job creation resulting from this project will be primarily in construction, surveying and engineering. Approximately 100-150 people are working on the project at this time. Some of the people working on the project are local and most are from Minnesota. The prime contractor is from Shafer, Minnesota and several of the subcontractors are local. Many materials for construction are also being supplied by local companies. Several individuals working on the project have moved to the Saint Peter area for the duration of the project. Construction personnel are also utilizing local services for gas, food, lodging and other goods and services.

Does the state compensate businesses for lost revenues during construction?
No. This has been well established by policy and the courts. Mn/DOT and its contractor are working with the City of Saint Peter and the Saint Peter business community to minimize business impacts.

Noise

What causes traffic noise?
Traffic noise consists of vehicular engine noise, noise generated by various components of the vehicle, extraneous sources such as refrigeration systems on trucks, and tire noise from contact with the roadway surface. Traffic noise will increase as traffic volumes increase, the distance from the road decreases, pavement condition deteriorates, speeds increase, and the number of trucks increases. Trucks are noisier than cars because the engines are larger, the vehicle sits higher up from the surface, tire surface is greater (due to both size and number of wheels) and the exhaust system is near the top of the vehicle.

A “dominant” vehicle noise component is a component that produces a sound level 6 dB(A) or higher than the sum of sound generated by other vehicle components. In a well maintained automobile, the tire noise is the dominant sound at speeds above 35-40 mph. On heavy and medium trucks, noise producing components other than tire/pavement sound are dominant and, therefore, mask tire/pavement sound.

People perceive sound differently. The human ear is efficient at blocking out very low and very high frequency sound. Some people are able to "tune out" background noise; some people find that background noise helps them to focus or to sleep; while others find background noise very disruptive to hearing ability, concentration and sleep. In general, most people cannot perceive a change in noise of 3 decibels or less in a typical outdoor urban/suburban environment.

How is traffic noise measured?
Traffic-generated sound waves are described by two basic parameters: frequency and amplitude. Amplitude is the energy level or "loudness" of a sound wave and is measured in decibels (dB). Frequency refers to the number of sound waves produced within a given time period. Frequency is weighted according to an "A" scale to provide a more accurate representation of the ear’s sensitivity to sounds of various frequencies. The resulting sound levels are reported as dB(A). Sound is measured on a logarithmic scale.

The MPCA has established some general "rules of thumb" about noise that are helpful in understanding noise measurements.

When sound increases by 10 decibels, it is perceived as a doubling of loudness:
+ 1 decibel – unnoticeable
+ 3 decibels – barely perceptible
+ 5 decibels – quite noticeable
+ 10 decibels – sounds twice as loud
+ 20 decibels – sounds four times as loud
When the distance is doubled from a “line” source (such as highway traffic), the sound level decreases by about three decibels.
A doubling of energy (for example, a doubling of traffic) yields an increase in noise of about three decibels.

Traffic volumes and the resulting traffic noise can vary considerably over short time periods. Therefore, traffic noise is expressed as the percent of time a sound level is exceeded. The measurement period for noise analysis is usually one hour. Traffic noise is usually reported as L10 levels, meaning the noise level that is exceeded more than 10 percent of the measurement period.

What are typical noise levels?
Noise levels vary for each specific piece of equipment and each specific location due to differences in equipment condition and operation and differences in the surrounding environment. The following are rough estimates of typical noise levels of some common noise sources.

Jet Aircraft (at 100 meters) - 130 decibels
Rock and Roll Concert - 120 decibels
Chainsaw - 90 decibels
Heavy Truck Traffic - 80 decibels
Business Office - 70 decibels
Busy Street - 65 decibels
Conversational Speech - 60 decibels
Library - 50 decibels
Secluded Woods - 30 decibels

Are there state and federal noise standards?
There are state noise standards established for a daytime peak hour between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. and a nighttime peak hour between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. The daytime peak noise hour for traffic is typically the afternoon rush hour, approximately 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. The nighttime peak hour for traffic is usually 6:00 – 7:00 a.m., the beginning of the morning rush hour. The state L10 noise standards for residential areas are 65 dB(A) for the daytime peak hour and 55 dB(A) for the nighttime peak hour. These standards apply only to freeways and state highways except within Minneapolis and St. Paul where they also apply to county and city roadways.

There are no federal noise standards, but the federal noise abatement criterion (level at which noise barriers are considered for cost-effectiveness) for L10 noise levels along federally funded roadways is 70 dB(A). Federal noise abatement criteria (23 CFR 772) only apply to two types of projects. Type I projects include the construction of a highway in a new location or the physical alteration of an existing highway which significantly changes either the horizontal or vertical alignment or increases the number of through traffic lanes. Type II projects are projects specifically designed for noise abatement.

The Saint Peter 169 project does not qualify as either a Type I or a Type II project. Therefore, federal noise abatement criteria do not apply.

How are future noise levels predicted?
Computerized noise modeling software is used to predict noise levels based on field measurements of existing noise in specific locations. Both the Federal Highway Administration and MPCA have approved the noise model that is used for all highway projects in Minnesota. Projected future traffic, future roadway design, and existing environmental conditions are used as input to the model.

How effective are noise walls and noise berms?
Generally, the effectiveness of a noise berm or noise wall depends on the distance between the listener and the noise source, the distance between the listener and the noise berm/wall, the height of the noise berm/wall above the line-of-sight between the listener and the noise source, and the frequency of breaks in the wall/berm. In general, noise berms are more effective than noise walls due to the bulk of the noise berm. Typically, noise reductions are greatest nearest the noise berm/wall. For a residence located near a 20-foot wall, a reduction of about 10 decibels would be typical. The amount of noise reduction decreases, as the listener moves farther away from the wall, and a reduction in noise would be barely perceptible at distances greater than 500 feet.

Is landscaping an effective noise barrier?
The use of landscaping (trees and shrubs) as a noise screen is only effective if there is at least 75-100 feet of dense, evergreen vegetation between the noise source and the listener. There is usually not enough right-of-way between a roadway and nearby residences to provide an effective vegetative noise screen. Some people may perceive that landscaping or decorative fencing decreases noise level because it is "out of sight, out of mind".

Why are noise walls or berms not part of the Saint Peter project?
Noise walls and berms were not considered for the Saint Peter project because: (1) noise walls or berms are not very effective on a roadway with at-grade intersections and driveways, (2) there is no room available in the public right-of-way for noise walls or berms, and (3) they would have significantly changed the aesthetics of the community.

Is concrete pavement noisier than asphalt?
Yes, concrete pavement is slightly noisier than asphalts at highway speeds (above 35-40 mph) but testing has shown that this difference is small enough to be imperceptible or barely perceptible to the average person. Testing has shown that the tire/pavement sound component of a typical well maintained automobile at 50 feet from the driving lane on a typical concrete pavement is 2 to 4 dB(A) higher than at the same distance from a typical asphalt pavement at highway speeds. The average person cannot perceive a noise difference of 3 dB(A) or less. The same difference does not occur with large trucks because other components of truck noise dominant and, therefore, mask tire/pavement noise.

Hwy 169 through Saint Peter has lower speeds and higher truck volumes. In addition, manholes and other highway elements that can increase noise have been relocated out of the general traffic lanes. Therefore, it is unlikely that a difference in noise levels between asphalt and concrete pavement would be perceptible to the average person. It is likely that future noise levels will be perceived as about the same as the previous noise levels.

Why was concrete selected for the Saint Peter Hwy 169 project?
This is a partnership project with the City of Saint Peter and the city requested (and Mn/DOT supports) the use of concrete in the downtown area. Concrete will last much longer and will reduce the amount of maintenance and repair work that negatively impacts traffic and, subsequently, the Saint Peter downtown business community. Asphalt will be used south of Jefferson and north of Chestnut, where only a mill and overlay of existing pavement is being done.

Additional Information

What if I have other questions not answered here?
You may get more information about the project by calling the project hotline at 507/995-2810 or sending an email to czimmer@visi.com.

You may sign up to receive weekly construction advisories by sending your email address to czimmer@visi.com..

If you have other questions related to public utilities, you may contact the City of Saint Peter Public Works Department at 507-304-6205.

Where can I get information about the Discover169 program?
Information about the Discover 169 program is available at www.discover169.com.

Where is the project office?
The Hwy 169 Saint Peter project office is located on the corner of Nassau and Front Street in downtown Saint Peter.