Browsing by Subject "Highways"

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Case Studies of Transportation Investment to Identify the Impacts on the Local and State Economy
    (Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2013-01) Iacono, Michael; Levinson, David
    This project provides case studies of the impact of transportation investments on local economies. We use multiple approaches to measure impacts since the effects of transportation projects can vary according to the size of a project and the size of the area under study, as well as other exogenous factors such as existing economic and demographic conditions. We measure effects on economic output and employment to estimate impacts of specific investments, and address issues of generative versus redistributive effects of investments, as well as identify specific economic sectors that might be disproportionately affected by such investments.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Minnesota TH 61 North Shore Scenic Drive
    (2004) Transportation Research Board; Myrick, P
    This report summarizes the reconstruction of TH 61 from Duluth to the Canadian border, and the consultative processes used prior to reconstruction. It takes an engineering perspective and does not include an assessment of water resources or public use of the shoreline, although reconstruction would necessarily have impacts on both. The report casts the reconstruction of TH 61 in a very positive light, and does not contain public commentary. Key segments are extracted and reproduced below. "The Minnesota Department of Transportation's (Mn/DOT's) reconstruction and realignment of TH 61 along Lake Superior's Good Harbor Bay illustrates a context sensitive design approach that balanced transportation, community, and environmental needs without requiring exceptions to geometric design standards. This project also illustrates context sensitive design that did not arise out of contentious public involvement and controversy but rather out of proactive project management and involvement of stakeholders. The specific effects of a lower design speed (55mph rather than the proposed 70mh) were to allow the highway alignment to be shifted and design flexibility to be accomplished without the need for exceptions to geometric design standards. Full lane widths and shoulder widths and appropriate roadside design for safety was possible for the alignment based on the lower design speed. Finally, the effect of the lower speed resulted in Mn/DOT saving considerable construction costs by avoiding extensive rock cuts. Mn/DOT went beyond avoidance, though. Consistent with MNDOT's context sensitive commitments and proactive stakeholder involvement, consensus was reached in determining project purpose and need to balance transportation, community, and environmental objectives. Specifically, a consensus was reached that selecting a lower design speed appropriate for the project characteristics would provide the flexibility to shift roadway alignment and balance project objectives without requiring exceptions to geometric design standards. As part of the overall project, given the vision of the stakeholders and importance of the route as a resource, Mn/DOT seized the opportunity to enhance the environment by the following actions: A. Alignment shift provided additional space to enable the expansion and reconstruction of the Cutface Creek Rest Area; B. Mn/DOT undertook the stabilization of a shoreline erosion problem; C. Cutface Creek bank stabilization was accomplished. The application of appropriate and context sensitive design flexibility during project development led to a successful balance of transportation, community, and environmental needs that are served by the constructed project. The constructed project also met four key measures of design excellence: 1) community acceptance, 2) environmental compatibility, 3) engineering and functional credibility, and 4) financial feasibility.”
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Non-ferrous Geology along the Highway 53 Relocation near Virginia, MN
    (University of Minnesota Duluth, 2015) Heine, John J; Patelke, Marsha Meinders; Post, Sara P; Maly, Craig C
    This report outlines the non-ferrous work done in the area of the Highway 53 relocation near Virginia, MN. At the request of the mineral lease holder (Vermilion Gold Inc.), an examination of the gold potential in the area of the new road was completed. Vermilion Gold Inc. located ten exploration diamond drill hole sites which they believed were necessary to characterize the area. Drilling occurred during fall 2013 and was conducted by Idea Drilling. The drilling and subsequent work by Natural Resource Research Institute, University of Minnesota Duluth (NRRI) was funded by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) as part of the relocation work for the highway. Logging and sample preparation were completed at the NRRI Coleraine Minerals Research Laboratory (CMRL) in Coleraine, MN.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Performance of Taconite Aggregates in Thin Lift HMA: Final Report - January 31, 2012
    (University of Minnesota Duluth, 2012) Zanko, Lawrence M; Johnson, Ed; Marasteanu, Mihai; Patelke, Marsha Meinders; Linell, David; Moon, Ki Hoon; Oreskovich, Julie A; Betts, Ray; Nadeau, Lynette; Johanneck, Luke; Turos, Mugur; DeRocher, Will
    This project was undertaken to advance the knowledge of the beneficial uses of taconite mining coarse tailings (taconite fine aggregate) for thin lift hot mix asphalt (HMA), to facilitate technical information gathering and marketing of such uses and properties, and to encourage the beneficial use of recycled/byproduct materials like durable and wear- and skid-resistant taconite (Mesabi) aggregates, recycled asphalt pavement (RAP), and asphalt shingles. In combination, the use of each is highly desirable because it promotes resource conservation, safety, and energy-saving. Outcomes of this study suggest that Mesabi rock and tailings products show promise as components of 4.75-mm Dense-graded, Stone Matrix Asphalt, and Ultra-Thin Bonded Wearing asphalt mixtures. Laboratory and field investigations of taconite tailings should continue. The Mesabi rock can be incorporated in standard Superpave, SMA, and fine/sand asphalt mixtures in upcoming construction projects. In each case construction and long term field performance should be evaluated. The investigators conclude that taconite-based thin lift HMA mixes that also incorporate RAP should be recognized as an environmentally sound, i.e., combining the use of byproduct and recycled/reclaimed materials, and high-quality option for HMA pavement rehabilitation and preservation. Collectively, the material testing results suggest that thinner wear-course pavements made from appropriately designed taconite-based mixes can match or exceed the service life of conventional MnDOT Level 4 mixtures. If extended service life is realized, then taconite fine aggregate could be a cost-effective choice at end-user locations where high-quality local aggregate sources are lacking or absent. These enhanced performance attributes can add intrinsic value to taconite materials and make them more desirable to use and more cost-effective to transport longer distances, thereby improving and broadening their near- and long-term potential for regional and national highway infrastructure projects.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    A Second Addendum To: Geology and Sulfide Content of Archean Rocks Along Two Proposed Highway 169 Relocations to the North of Sixmile Lake, St. Louis County, Northeastern Minnesota
    (University of Minnesota Duluth, 2015-08) Heine, John J
    This second addendum to GEOLOGY AND SULFIDE CONTENT OF ARCHEAN ROCKS ALONG TWO PROPOSED HIGHWAY 169 RELOCATIONS TO THE NORTH OF SIXMILE LAKE, ST. LOUIS COUNTY, NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA (Severson and Heine, 2010) examines the bedrock outcrops in the western part of the area along the existing Highway 169 alignment. This area is the western part of the identified “Northern Alignment” alternative. Outcrops were examined to determine rock type, sulfide content, and structural features. Samples were collected of both representative rock types and any rock types with elevated sulfides present. Twenty-six samples were collected during this project, and an additional sixteen samples collected during the 2010 work were included from the area where the areas overlapped. The current map area contains generally higher visual pyrite content and higher sulfur analyzed by Leco technique (AcmeLabs, Canada) than observed along the “Southern Alignment” in Severson and Heine (2010). This elevated sulfur content is due to a number of factors: 1. The presence of the upper black cherty Soudan Iron-Formation, which contains syngenetic disseminated and bedded pyrite (FeS2); 2. The presence of faults in the central part of the area and increased localized shearing; and 3. The new rock units that include the Gray Basalt and Gafvert Lake Sequence, which both contain elevated sulfides. Observed sulfide mineral contents and chemical concentrations are higher in the Northern Alignment than the Southern Alignment, suggesting that based on sulfide mineral contents and sulfur concentrations alone, the Southern Alignment would be the preferred alignment; however, consideration of other factors beyond the scope of this report are also required for determining the final location for the highway. Additionally, should this route be chosen, additional drilling would be needed to supplement the outcrop information in areas with less exposure.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Transportation Investment and Job Creation in Minnesota Counties
    (Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2018-01) Zhao, Zhirong Jerry; Leung, Weiwen
    Numerous studies have been conducted about the impact of transportation investment on economic development. These studies typically use a conventional production function model of economic development augmented by a public capital input, such as highways, rail, or other transportation investments.The findings, in general, confirm a positive elasticity between transportation investment and economic development, but the range of the effects varies widely among studies. In a recent research project, Zhao (2015) quantifies long-term transportation capital stocks in Minnesota counties and finds that these stocks have positive returns on property values. This study extends Zhao(2015)’s methodology to study the link between transportation investment and job creation. We find that long-term transportation investments contribute significantly to employment in Minnesota counties. The results have several policy implications. First, investments on local roads within a county can increase the employment rate in the county. Second, investments on trunk highway surrounding a county can increase the employment rate in the county. Lastly, in the context of Minnesota, it could be more effective to invest in rural areas compared to urban areas, as far as employment growth in concerned.