Minnesota Department of Transportation’s Rock Ridge Transportation Improvements project improved travel corridor safety around a new school campus just off Highway 53.
The $23.2 million corridor had a history of high crash rates and did not account for future increases in traffic. MnDOT worked with agency stakeholders to improve intersection safety, enhance mobility and provide the necessary connections for all modes of transportation through the corridor and to the school campus. The project added pedestrian and bicycle accommodations throughout the corridor to close network gaps, providing safer access for users traveling to the school and the regional Mesabi Trail system.
MnDOT noted the project was also critical to supporting construction of the new school campus located on the opposite side of the highway from the community. MnDOT and St. Louis County formed a successful partnership to develop, fund, and construct intersection safety improvements on an abbreviated timeline to improve safe traffic flow and pedestrian connections around the newly constructed school campus.
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