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Highway <br />1 <br />6 <br />9 <br />Count <br />y <br /> <br />R <br />o <br />a <br />d <br /> <br />4 <br />Existing Corridor Issues Benefits of a New Interchange <br />Highway 169 is a major route for local and statewide travel and accommodates commuter, tourist and freight <br />trac. In Zimmerman, a trac signal at County Road 4 and unrestricted highway access cause frequent trac <br />congestion, causing loss of freight revenue, user frustration and an increase in the number of crashes. <br />Over the next 20 years, trac volume is <br />expected to increase by 40%, which will <br />amplify existing issues. Tra c counts completed <br />in 2018 show 27,000 cars per day (AADT) use Highway 169 <br />south of the County Road 4 intersection and 21,200 north of <br />the intersection. The City of Zimmerman and Sherburne <br />County need to be prepared to plan and construct a solution <br />that addresses the mobility and safety of its residents, <br />businesses and visitors. <br />$2 million is requested to re-evaluate MnDOT interchange <br />concepts from 10 years ago, update environmental <br />documents, and develop nal plans and speci cations. <br />SUPPORTED ECONOMIC GROWTH: <br />An ecient road network would <br />support Sherburne County’s <br />economic vitality for existing <br />commerce and planned commercial <br />and industrial growth. Controlled <br />and safe access on and o Hwy 169 <br />would support future development <br />of 140 acres adjacent to the highway. <br />TRAFFIC DELAYS: Mile-long <br />backups are common during <br />peak travel times. Drivers often <br />wait through multiple signal <br />cycles before making it through <br />the intersection. <br />FREQUENT CRASHES: <br />92 crashes (1 fatality) reported <br />in the last 5 years equaled <br />$15.9 million in damages, the <br />2nd highest in the state for similar <br />intersections. Both the crash rate <br />(1.72) and crash severity (2.41) are <br />almost 4 times above state <br />averages for similar intersections, <br />0.45 and 0.63 respectively. <br />OBSTACLES TO <br />ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: <br />The uncertain future of the <br />intersection and poor access <br />greatly hinder the sale of existing <br />commercial properties. On the <br />west side of Hwy 169, a lack of <br />highway access is a major barrier <br />to the development of large <br />vacant properties. <br />SIGNAL-FREE TRAFFIC CORRIDOR: <br />Converting the intersection to an <br />interchange would eliminate the <br />last remaining trac signal on <br />the 75-mile stretch of Hwy 169 <br />between Rogers and Lake Mille Lacs. <br />PEDESTRIAN & BICYCLE CONNECTIVITY: <br />Conversion to an interchange would create <br />opportunity to connect existing and <br />proposed trails, greatly improving access <br />to parks and other scenic and natural <br />amenities throughout the county. <br />MEET FUTURE TRAFFIC NEEDS: <br />Constructing a highway interchange <br />now will alleviate current issues and <br />will accommodate the expected future <br />increase in trac volumes . <br />HIGHWAY HURDLE: All the <br />trac freed up by the Hwy 169 <br />Redene project in Elk River may <br />have to stop at the trac signal <br />in Zimmerman. <br />Zimmerman <br />Fix It, 4/169 <br />Onamia <br />Zimmerman <br />Mille Lacs <br />Kathio <br />State Park <br />Rum River <br />State Forest <br />Sherburne <br />National <br />Wildlife <br />Refuge <br />Milaca <br />Mille <br />Lacs <br />Rogers <br />Princeton <br />Elk River <br />169 <br />4