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U S 1 0 & 1 6 5 th J -T u r n I m p r o v e m e n t s | E l k R i v e r B O L T O N & M E N K | 5 PROJECT EXPERIENCE TH 65 & Cajima Street RCUT Improvements City of Isanti, Minnesota The intersection of TH 65 and Cajima Street NE in Isanti met many conditions that warrant a change in traffic control. Ten crashes were recorded at this intersection between 2013 and 2015. The westbound left turn operated at a Level of Service F. The delay was anticipated to increase from below 90 seconds to more than 1,100 seconds per vehicle over the next 20 years with the current stop control in the AM and PM peak hours. Through discussions with MnDOT and completion of an ICE report at this intersection, an RCUT was determined to be the optimal improvement at this intersection. It was found to have the greatest reduction in crashes while reducing delay times significantly. We were able to secure funding through the MnDOT Local Partnership Program (LPP) which required a Level 1 Layout be completed and approved by MnDOT District 3 and Central Office. We were assigned a state project number and completed plans and specifications to meet LPP funding requirements. The project moved along seamlessly from preliminary report to approval of final plans and was completed in 2019. TH 53 Intersection and Passing Lane Improvements MnDOT District 1 TH 53 runs through District 1 with significant regional, state-wide, and interstate connectivity. Bolton & Menk led the preliminary and final design, including detailed roadway design. This project introduced a reduced conflict intersection on TH 53 at TH 1 (south junction) to address a traffic safety issues and an offset tee intersection on TH 53 at TH 1 (north junction). For the south junction, we worked with KGM contractors. We applied their 119-foot-long mobile asphalt plant hauler as a control vehicle for the geometric design of the RCI. Along with intersection improvements, this project created passing lanes in four different areas between Cook and International Falls. To remain with the existing shoulder PI to PI footprint, existing shoulder width was reduced, and through lanes were moved out from the existing centerline. We designed mainline mill and overlay and shoulder reconstruction in the passing lane areas. Due to reduced shoulder width, we performed clear zone calculations at all culvert locations. This ensured standards were met and identified the need for new guardrail placement. The project also included an EAW and CATEX under an extremely aggressive timeline. TH 169/CR 28 Intersection Improvements, Le Sueur County, Minnesota Utilities and improvements were brought to the north part of Le Sueur where industrial lot development was planned. Access improvements were needed at TH 169, which serves as the basis of future roadway extensions to support development. Plans for an interchange were in the works for over a decade. Bolton & Menk helped refine access needs through this area and determined potential locations. Funding was unsuccessful due to the high price coupled with limited benefits. A more cost-effective solution was developed that included Reduced Conflict U-Turn Intersection (RCUT) treatments. With RCUT design, left turning movements onto the mainline are performed with a right turn, followed by a U-turn to the desired travel direction. This eliminates the need to find gaps in both directions to make the left turn, particularly important for trucks too large to use the center median area as a refuge. Our solution was fundable and supported by all project partners. It also closed or combined multiple access points, safely facilitates traffic movements, serves heavy truck traffic volumes, and has allowed industrial development to begin. Page 264 of 309