Minnesota Department of Transportation

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Project selection

Increasing the transparency of how we select highway construction projects

Urban non-freeway/non-expressway pavement projects

MnDOT District 1

Scoring criteria for urban non-freeway, non-expressway pavement projects. Out of 100 possible points, 25 points are based on the timing of the improvement, 25 points are based on cracking, rutting and patching, 10 points are based on traffic volume, 10 points are based on compliance with the Americans with Disability Act, 10 points are based on active transportation and transit, 10 points are based on other infrastructure needs, 5 points are based on the condition of local utilities under the road, and 5 points are based on whether the project will benefit an environmental justice population.

Learn more about how MnDOT evaluates and selects urban pavement projects

MnDOT scores stretches of highway based on a pavement need when selecting projects to include in the 10-year Capital Highway Investment Plan. MnDOT scores and prioritizes urban non-freeway/non-expressway pavement projects separately from the normal pavement scoring process, because of their complexity, utilities and other infrastructure and level of required local coordination and public involvement. In many instances, these roads function both as state highways and as city streets. These pavement projects can be on either National Highway System or non-NHS.

Freeways have full access control (no driveways, signals or at-grade intersections). Expressways have partial access control (limited or no driveways, few and widely spaced intersections, and may include some grade separated crossings). Both are high speed roads designed to facilitate longer trips.

For the purposes of this scoring category, MnDOT uses a flexible, context-based definition of urban. This includes areas with medium-to-high density adjacent development with small to medium setbacks, and in some instances no setback. This includes both residential, industrial and commercial areas. In some instances, the urban context may cover less than a quarter mile.

Urban pavement projects are scored and selected within each district. Potential pavement projects are identified by the Highway Pavement Management Application (HPMA) and by MnDOT District staff.

Once selected, MnDOT then identifies and evaluates alternatives and other needs, legal requirements, issues and opportunities in coordination with local partners, and considers public input. In the process, non-pavement work may be added to a pavement project or a pavement project may be combined with a nearby bridge project. The department follows a context-sensitive complete streets approach, which considers the needs of all users. The final project may address a substantial number of needs beyond the pavement need that precipitated the project. Projects may move years based on local coordination, project delivery, timing of other nearby construction projects, and funding shifts.

What was selected

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How the projects scored

The construction costs shown on this list represent a very rough estimate based on limited information available at the time selection decisions were made. Actual construction and delivery costs will change over time as projects go from a concept through the project development process and are eventually constructed. View more detailed scores (Excel).

Last updated October 2024

Score Route  Community Description High-Level Cost Estimate for Planning Purposes Year Planned (FY) Comments
92 MN61 Duluth/London Road MN 61, NB and SB, in Duluth, from 26 Ave E. To 0.14 mi. N. 60th Avenue East, Const Roundabout at 26th & 40th Ave. E.,  Pavement Resurface, Trail $8,300,000 2025 Scored as NHS Pavement  6925-145
91 MN11 International Falls Resurface Hwy 11 from just west of Koochiching County Road 332 to 6th Ave W in International Falls $5,200,000 2028 3605-43 
90 MN33 Cloquet Resurface Hwy 33 from just north of Doddridge Ave to Cloquet Ave in Cloquet $2,000,000 2029 0905-56
90 US2 Grand Rapids Resurface Hwy 2 from just west of 19th Ave NW to Hwy 169 $3,800,000 2028 3103-1037794
85 MN61 Two Harbors Reconstruct Hwy 61 from just north of the DM&IR railway bridge to just east of 5th St  $6,400,000 2025 3804-62
84 MN23 Duluth Resurface Hwy 23 from McCuen St to Becks Rd/St. Louis County Road 3 $3,300,000 2031 6910-113
81 MN38 Bigfork Hwy 38 South Limits Bigfork to 0.3 miles South Itasca County Road 14 Resurface roadway sidewalks improve pedestrian access  $2,500,000 2023 3108-83
80 MN23 Duluth Resurface Hwy 23 from Becks Rd/St. Louis County Road 3 to just south of 83rd Ave $3,400,000   Cost is greater than available budget; also scored as Non-NHS pavement project
80 MN194 Duluth/Central Entrance Reconstruct NB and SB Hwy 194 from Hwy 53 (Trinity Rd) to 200 feet north of Mesaba Ave in Duluth $14,300,000 2026 6933-99
79 US2 Proctor Resurface Hwy 2 from Hwy 194 to just east of Boundary Ave in Proctor $10,800,000 2026 6908-68
79 US2 Warba Reconstruct Hwy 2 from just west of CR 73 to just west of CR 74 in Warba $4,000,000 2027 3104-63
76 US2 La Prairie/Grand Rapids Resurface EB and WB Hwy 2 in Grand Rapids to just east of La Prairie Ave

 $3,300,000 2024 3104-61
73 US53 Cook Resurface Hwy 53 from just south of Cook to south limits of Cook $800,000    
73 MN210 Carlton Resurface Hwy 210 from the end of the 4-lane to just south of Vermillion St $3,300,000 2030 Scores higher as Non-NHS project; 0916-1038046
72 MN33 Cloquet Resurface Hwy 33 from Cloquet Ave to bridge 09008 in Cloquet $900,000 2029 0906-1038528
70 MN18 Finlayson Resurface Hwy 18 in Finlayson to Hwy 23 $4,100,000 2031 5808-25
70 MN23 Duluth Resurface Hwy 23 from Boyd St to I-35 $1,200,000    
70 MN73 Chisholm Resurface NB and SB Hwy 73 from just north of Hwy 169 to 4th St in Chisholm $1,800,000 2026 Listed as one project in CHIP: 6930-42
70 MN73 Chisholm Resurface NB and SB Hwy 73 from just north of Hwy 169 to 4th St in Chisholm $2,100,000 2026 Listed as one project in CHIP: 6930-42
70 MN73 Chisholm Resurface NB and SB Hwy 73 from just north of Hwy 169 to 4th St in Chisholm $500,000 2026 Listed as one project in CHIP: 6930-42
66 MN1 Ely Resurface Hwy 1 from just west of St. Louis County Road 21 to Hwy 169 $1,100,000    
64 MN61 Beaver Bay Resurface Hwy 61 from just south of Mary St to Beaver Bay bridge $400,000    
64 MN1 Effie Resurface Hwy 1 from just west of Hwy 38 to just north of Itasca County Road 38 $300,000    
57 MN73 Moose Lake Resurface Hwy 73 from just north of Moose Horn River to Hwy 27 $300,000    
54 MN73 Kettle River Resurface Hwy 73 from Hwy 27 to 3rd Ave $2,900,000 2029 Coordinated with another project; 0912-1038575
50 MN61 Duluth/London Road MN 61, NB and SB, in Duluth, from 26 Ave E. To 0.14 mi. N. 60th Avenue East, Const Roundabout at 26th & 40th Ave. E.,  Pavement Resurface, Trail $100,000 2025 Limits included in 6925-145

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