Projects honored for improving safety, stormwater management, and more!

March 17, 2024

Congratulations to the 2023 Project of the Year recipients honored by the Minnesota County Engineers Association (MCEA), American Public Works Association – Minnesota Chapter (APWA–MN), and City Engineers Association of Minnesota (CEAM). Please see the association websites for details and a full list of awards. The highlights below are edited from project submission forms.

MCEA Project of the Year: CSAH 49, Steele County

This project reconstructed CSAH 49 from a gravel road to a paved road on a new alignment meeting current State Aid standards. CSAH 49 had been a gravel township road through an area of active aggregate and sand mining. The road had a varied history and had been moved at least once to accommodate mining. Based on recommendations in its 2025 Transportation Plan, Steele County took jurisdiction of the route in 2008 and designated it as CSAH 49. In this project, the southern portion of the old road alignment was converted to a dead-end road that will service industrial businesses, and it will be turned back to Medford Township. Turn lanes were constructed at the CSAH 49 intersection of the new dead-end road to accommodate the heavy truck volumes servicing the industries along that road.

a paved road through a countryside — After: The new alignment of CSAH 49 (Photo: Steele County)

a dirt road going through a countryside — Before: A private road owned by a gravel company (Photo: Steele County)

APWA–MN Project of the Year – Outstate: TH 61 Reconstruction, City of Grand Marais

This comprehensive, 11.3-mile-long project included TH 61’s reconstruction and preservation through the downtown core of the 2.9-square-mile city. It notably included a 3/4-mile conversion of rural commercial corridor to urban design, including new storm sewer and new ADA-compliant pedestrian and bike facilities. The urban conversion used pedestrian bump-outs, narrowed driving lanes, and shoulders to slow traffic. It also improved access control by consolidating roadway connections and establishing standard entrances in lieu of less formalized connections. The project included extensive ADA design, utility coordination and relocations, and storm sewer design with permanent stormwater treatment within the narrow right-of-way.

After: The conversion used pedestrian bump-outs, narrowed driving lanes, and shoulders to slow traffic. (Photo: LHB Corp.)

Before: Grand Marais wanted to reduce vehicle speeds and provide pedestrian and bicycle amenities. (Photo: LHB Corp.)

APWA–MN Project of the Year – Structures: Duck Lake Road Reconstruction, City of Eden Prairie

Duck Lake Road has been in existence since before 1940. It was improved in 1973 and functioned as a rural section causeway between Duck Lake and the westerly lobe. A narrow section of the road was overdue for reconstruction and needed pedestrian facilities and improved stormwater management. The redesign features a new 255-foot bridge that crosses the lake—a haunched, five-span continuous concrete slab with a pedestrian overlook and fishing pier on pile bents and integral abutments. The roadway was also widened.

Duck Lake before — Before: A narrow section of Duck Lake Road needed reconstruction, pedestrian facilities, and improved stormwater management. (Photo: Bolton & Menk)

After: The redesign features a new bridge, pedestrian overlook, and fishing pier. (Photo: Bolton & Menk)

APWA–MN Project of the Year – Transportation: Highway 10/169 Improvements, City of Anoka

Before: The Anoka corridor was severely congested, had extremely high crash rates, and was a barrier to pedestrians and bicyclists. (Photo: City of Anoka)

US Highway 10/169, a four-lane expressway, remained virtually unchanged since a downtown Anoka bypass was constructed in 1964. Meanwhile, Anoka County grew from 85,000 people to more than 350,000. For decades, the highway corridor was severely congested, had extremely high crash rates, and was a barrier to pedestrian and bicyclists. With the support of MnDOT and Anoka County, the City of Anoka led this transformative project that incorporated a community-focused vision. The final design layout includes a roundabout interchange, grade separation, overpass, and series of new frontage roads. The project reduced delays 75 percent by eliminating all at-grade access points and signals on Highway 10/169 in Anoka. It also resulted in a 57 percent crash reduction, enhancing the corridor’s safety, reliability, and efficiency.

bird's eye view of large highway — After: This transformative project incorporated a community-focused vision. (Photo: City of Anoka)

CEAM Project of the Year – Transportation: Highway 10/169 Corridor, City of Anoka

CEAM joined APWA-MN (see above) to honor this corridor transformation. According to the city’s submission form, “MnDOT leadership stated many times that Anoka’s approach should serve as a model for future roadway improvement projects.”