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Kudos to MnDOT – Our view: Intersection options a good start

It happens all too often, people blaming the Minnesota Department of Transportation when Minnesota’s roads are anything less than ideal. But this time, the staff at the MnDOT regional office serving Glencoe deserves credit.
Last Monday, Sept. 23, MnDOT and its consultant, SRF Consulting Group, publicly released proposals for improving the safety of potentially unsafe selected crossings of Highway 212 in Glencoe. Given the state of funding available to MnDOT, these options accomplish the realistic expectations we can expect for the design of Minnesota’s roads.
These ideas are far from perfect. They represent the best options given funding limitations.
MnDOT is proposing a J-turn or roundabout for the intersection of Highway 212 and North Chandler Avenue. It is pitching a roundabout for the junction of Highway 212 and Morningside Drive. A J-turn is planned for the intersection of Highway 212 and County Road 1. MnDOT plans to close the median at the intersection of County Road 9 and Highway 212, a closure that will allow only right-in and right-outs on east and westbound lanes of the highway. Drivers on County Road 9 won’t be able to cross lanes carrying oncoming traffic to make a left turn.
These proposals are intended to improve the safety of our roads and keep traffic moving. That is all we can reasonably hope for given the constraints MnDOT works under. The proposals are from MnDOT’s ongoing study of improving safety on Highway 212 and the routing of Highway 22 through the Glencoe area. Some of these ideas came with help from public input.
Roundabouts and J-turns reflect creative thinking by traffic gurus trying to keep highway traffic flowing safely. They are far from ideal. Ideally, overpasses would be better options. But you don’t get better, and admittedly, more expensive options when you don’t want to pay for them.
You get J-turns and roundabouts on highways.
The idea of a roundabout at the intersection of Highway 212 and Morningside Drive will hopefully allow pedestrians to cross the highway safely. They would use the raised concrete lane dividers as a safety island if they can’t make it across the highway before the next vehicle enters the roundabout. Preferably, a pedestrian bridge would’ve been included in the plans for the intersection. Sadly, MnDOT said a pedestrian bridge was never considered. Too bad.
Funding for the proposed safety improvements is not currently included in MnDOT’s budget other than the J-turn at Highway 212 and County Road 1. If the other improvements are accepted, we hope they will be implemented as soon as possible. Some of these proposals might help prevent crashes, like Friday night’s crash at Highway 212 and County Road 1.
The greater challenge in the study of Highway 212 intersections and Highway 22 routing is what to do with Highway 22 between Glencoe and Hutchinson. People want the truck traffic out of downtown Glencoe and the city’s residential areas. Two of the options would take most direct traffic around the city. That’s good for safety but bad for business. The other options also have drawbacks. Creating an entirely new roadway would be costly.
A creative, equitable, enforceable solution will be needed if Highway 22 route through Glencoe is to be improved. We hope the same sharp minds and collaboration that came up with the proposed safety improvements on Highway 212 intersections can help Highway 22 routing.

-jm