Minnesota Notes

[kphoger]

Nothing earth shattering but driving along US-169 through Zimmerman today I noticed that one of the two temporary signal setups has a three-section FYA, which is the first one I've seen in Minnesota. The other signal has the MNDOT standard 4-section FYA.

On a side note, they're flying through progress on that interchange, especially since the project really only kicked off in earnest about a month ago. They've already got the NB lanes graded and a fair amount of the concrete for the new overpass poured. The roundabouts along CSAH 4 are also coming along nicely. Completion is estimated for this November, so I guess it's no wonder things are moving so quickly.

Is the Dairy Queen slated for destruction, or does it get to stay?  Carrie has early childhood memories of going there with her grandpa, so for that reason alone I'd hate to see it get torn down for an off-ramp or whatever.

[Molandfreak]

Nothing earth shattering but driving along US-169 through Zimmerman today I noticed that one of the two temporary signal setups has a three-section FYA, which is the first one I've seen in Minnesota. The other signal has the MNDOT standard 4-section FYA.

On a side note, they're flying through progress on that interchange, especially since the project really only kicked off in earnest about a month ago. They've already got the NB lanes graded and a fair amount of the concrete for the new overpass poured. The roundabouts along CSAH 4 are also coming along nicely. Completion is estimated for this November, so I guess it's no wonder things are moving so quickly.

Is the Dairy Queen slated for destruction, or does it get to stay?  Carrie has early childhood memories of going there with her grandpa, so for that reason alone I'd hate to see it get torn down for an off-ramp or whatever.

Not according to page 6.

[The Ghostbuster]

It seems like everyone is building roundabouts nowadays.

[froggie]

I never thought I'd see the day, but Rice County has started pentagoning its County State-Aid Highways, at least in the eastern townships.

The numbers are also orange, which even Hennepin County stopped doing.

That's strange as well.  MnDOT's standard for many years has been white numerals.  Better visibility.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

It seems like everyone is building roundabouts nowadays.

This one makes sense because it's all farm fields pretty much immediately to the east of 169 beyond the Holiday.

[Molandfreak]

It seems like everyone is building roundabouts nowadays.

This one makes sense because it's all farm fields pretty much immediately to the east of 169 beyond the Holiday.

Also, I don't know why this is the venue to blindly complain about them when every argument against them is easily disproven. They are easy to navigate, easy for trucks, easy for implements, and I haven't seen one with plowing residue issues. The only argument that might have held water 20 years ago is that people haven't seen them before, but the first roundabout in Minnesota opened in 1997. Over a quarter of a century ago. At some point, it's on you if you don't know how they work.

[bschultzy]

I noticed today while driving west on I-394 approaching Louisiana Ave. that the advance sign for that exit now says "900 Feet" instead of a down arrow. I can't think of another place in the Twin Cities or beyond that has used feet instead of miles to indicate how far away a ramp is. Are there any others? Is this a new trend for MnDOT?

[Great Lakes Roads]

A video on the freeway upgrade on MN 65 in Blaine.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

Noticed an interesting new sign on WB I-394 last night where the approach sign to Louisiana Ave has been replaced; the previous simple unassuming down arrow that was there now reads "900 FEET". Don't see that every day.

[thspfc]

Noticed an interesting new sign on WB I-394 last night where the approach sign to Louisiana Ave has been replaced; the previous simple unassuming down arrow that was there now reads "900 FEET". Don't see that every day.

That's part of my commute as of recently. Didn't know it was a recent change, but the "900 FEET" did register as unusual.

I think the "feet" unit conveys urgency in a way "1/6 mile" doesn't, but also doesn't induce the panic that an exit arrow does. It's a good reminder to merge ASAP as the Xenia/100 ramp becomes the right lane.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

Holy mother of deity of your choice, the southbound TH 61 detour in Duluth is absolutely atrocious in its planning and execution. The SB direction closes at Superior St where the expressway ends. There, you have three movements trying to turn or continue onto Superior St with no traffic control devices whatsoever. It really needs temporary signals at least for the weekends.

They have temporarily converted the Superior St intersections with 60th East and 26th East into stoplights during the TH 61 detour phase.

[froggie]

Referring to the London Rd project?

[EpicRoadways]

Anyone know what the deal is with the 16th Street RIRO on US-169 NB in Minnetonka right before the I-394 exit? There was a temporary orange sign announcing that the ramp was to close on June 4th but outside of that there were no cones, barricades, or any other evidence of road work. The ramp is still open and the sign is still there, but it's facing away from the roadway. I had initially assumed the ramp was finally closing for good, but I can't find any evidence of that anywhere on the MNDOT website. Truthfully, IMO it's long overdue- while 169 has its share of not great ramps, this is the only one that's a true 90-degree RIRO (and it's signed at 15MPH to boot!) from Champlin to Shakopee. Its SB counterpart was removed a few years back.

I'm sure the reason why it's taken so long to remove this ramp is that there isn't a great alternative, as someone living in the subdivision that the ramp serves would have to take the ramp to EB 394, get off at General Mills Blvd, and backtrack a fair distance along the frontage road to 14th Street. Another option would be to take the Cedar Lake Road exit and enter the subdivision that way, which makes me wonder if maybe the ramp closure was delayed because of the work at the Cedar Lake Road interchange, and maybe they're waiting to close the 16th Street ramp until they can reopen that Cedar Lake exit. Anyone know the story here?