Thanks for contacting us. We know construction slow things down and can frustrate drivers. We appreciate the opportunity to provide some more information.

The single lane closure is for a variety of work: cable median barrier, shoulder work, paving, etc. This week, the crews are working on the final stages of the project - rumble strips, striping, and signing.

We often get questions about lane closures. One of the most common ones has to do with the perception that no workers mean the lane should be open. Unfortunately, it is more complex. Because of this, each project is evaluated to balance the needs of the contractor and the traveling public. Considerations range from safety for all, to current construction work, the space needed for the next day, time spent by the contractor restaging the closure, etc. 

This project is in its final stages. Weather permitting, the road should be fully open by mid-August. There may be some short-term single lane closures after as crews finish minor work. 

Thank you for your patience and the opportunity to provide some details. Please let us know if you have any additional questions. 

Thank you for your question. We are unable to open 210th Avenue to Highway 14. We manage access to Highway 14 and other highways to reduce conflicts, minimize crashes, reduce delay, and preserve mobility. We accomplish this through the types of access and access spacing.  The improvements at Highway 14 and County Road 9 will maintain access at that location and there is full access to the west at Airport Drive. Please reach out to the contacts listed on the site if you have any additional questions.

Hi, that is a good question. The current project is looking at improving safety at the existing Highway 14 and County Road 9 intersection within a limited budget while balancing local property owner access needs with safety and mobility. Closing access at the existing County Road 9 and moving it to another location is beyond the scope of this project and would likely require additional studies to determine the impacts on local property owners, businesses, and long-range county/city/township planning.

Thank you for your question Shannah.

MnDOT initially planned to construct a reduced conflict intersection (RCI) at Olmsted County Road 3 and Olmsted County Road 44 this summer, however the project did not receive approval from ROCOG. We are currently planning to construct the RCI at Olmsted County Road 3 during the summer of 2023.

 At this point, we are moving toward the construction of an RCI at Dodge County Road 9 during the summer of 2024.

Stop lights won't be installed at County Road 9 or 260 Avenue. Crash analyses show an increased crash rate with stop lights on high-speed rural highways at low-volume intersections.  

We are constrained by fiscal budgets and responsibly spend taxpayer dollars. You noted taxpayers’ money is important to you, and we recommend you give a second look at the proposed RCI. Bridges cost millions of dollars. However, an RCI about $1 million to construct and effectively reduces severe and deadly crashes. You can learn more about RCIs on MnDOT's website here: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/roadwork/rci/.  

Acceleration lanes are useful when high volumes of trucks enter the highway at a single point (e.g., at an ethanol plant). They reduce the time a trucker needs to wait for a gap in the traffic by giving them a protected space to accelerate. Analysis shows they do not reduce serious crashes, and the limited studies suggest that they increase the number of minor crashes.

Closing the intersections is an option we consider when evaluating intersection safety improvements. But closing intersections also makes it harder for local property owners to do business, farm, and get to and from their homes. We are looking for ways to balance safety improvements with local property access.   

Crossing a four-lane divided highway can be dangerous. We are planning a reduced conflict intersection (RCI) at Highway 14 and County Road 9. RCIs are proven to reduce the number and severity of crashes – especially right-angle crashes. The plan includes widened shoulders to give extra space for agricultural equipment to cross without having to enter Highway 14 traffic. You can learn more about RCIs on MnDOT's website here: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/roadwork/rci/.  

Acceleration lanes are useful when high volumes of trucks are entering the highway at a single point (e.g., at an ethanol plant). They reduce the time a trucker needs to wait for a gap in the traffic by giving them a protected space to accelerate. Analysis shows they do not reduce serious crashes, and the limited studies suggest that they increase the number of minor crashes.