Contacts
- J.P. Gillach
651-234-7503
Location
Minnesota Department of Transportation
Metro District
Office of Communications
1500 County Rd B2 West
Roseville, MN 55113
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Plan in place to provide enhanced Hwy 169 flood detour
Temporary measures would ease congestion and increase capacity if prolonged south metro flooding occurs
ROSEVILLE, Minn. – In a proactive step to help ease congestion and improve mobility in the event that flooding forces the prolonged closure of Hwy 101 and Highway 41, plans are in place to accommodate a greater volume of Hwy 169 traffic between Shakopee and I-494.
The plan temporarily restripes both directions of Hwy 169 in order to add one lane between approximately County Road 18 in Shakopee and Pioneer Trail Bloomington. The roadway would be returned to its existing condition once the river crossings at Hwy 101 and Highway 41 are re-opened.
Other measures that are being investigated include temporary signal modifications to accommodate increased traffic at three locations near I-494.
“While we’re not 100 percent positive that this plan will take effect,” said Scott McBride, District Engineer for the Metropolitan District, “this is a proactive approach we’ve strongly considered. Whether or not we’ll have to implement it remains to be seen, based on projections from the National Weather Service.”
If put into action, portions of the plan would entail:
- Creating three narrow lanes with posted speed limits of 55 miles per hour or less along the restriped sections of Hwy 169, similar to those of a construction work zone
- Restripe northbound Hwy 169 to add a lane between Scott County Road 18 and approximately Pioneer Trail
- Restripe southbound Hwy 169 to add a lane between approximately Pioneer Trail and Hwy 101
- Potential temporary signal modifications at the Highwood Drive/Townline Avenue intersection in Bloomington and at the Highway 169/I-494 interchange
- Temporarily close the ramp from Old Shakopee Road to northbound Hwy 169
- A detour will direct motorists north on Bloomington Ferry Road
- Provide extra traffic management and enhanced freeway service patrol (FIRST) to quickly address and clear traffic incidents during peak traffic periods
Further details about enhancements to Hwy 169 will be made available during the next several days as more data about flood severity becomes available.
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