The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) recently scheduled a traffic-management project in Park Rapids for 2018.
The project involves the intersection of Hubbard County Road 15 and Highway 71. There are two options for improving the intersection — either a left-turn lane or a roundabout. To determine which option is best, MnDOT has requested that the public visit its website to leave comments and other input: www.dot.state.mn.us/d2/projects/hwy71-parkrapids/involvement.html?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&…
Experts recently conducted an Intersection Control Evaluation and determined that the roundabout would be the safest and most functional option. Analysts said traffic signals are not an option because of the low volume of traffic that passes through the intersection, which is not expected to meet the minimum threshold for traffic volume needed for a traffic signal until 2029.
If officials choose the roundabout option, it will be the first roundabout that northwestern Minnesota will have on a state highway. Roundabouts are good for improving traffic flow, as well as heightening safety.
