MN: Washington St. (Hwy 210) Reconstruction

Safer Streets Are Just Ahead for the People of Brainerd   

Challenge: Highway 210 through Brainerd, Minn., epitomizes the problems faced nationwide by rural communities when it comes to transportation improvements. As these communities grow, their transportation networks struggle to keep up. Downtown Brainerd is home to more than 100 businesses, but its main artery has been plagued with crashes. According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), a total of 526 crashes occurred along this four-mile section of Highway 210 during the five years analyzed (2014-2018). Ten of these crashes involved pedestrians or bicycles.    

Solution: With help from federal infrastructure investment, MnDOT will rebuild this four-mile stretch of Highway 210, also known as Washington Street, from Baxter Drive to Pine Shores Road. Among the improvements are accessibility and sidewalk upgrades to improve pedestrian safety, the construction of two roundabouts, new traffic signal systems, an upgrade of the city’s utilities, and updating the Washington Street bridge over the Mississippi River.  

What they’re saying: “[County Highway Engineer Tim] Bray stated the improvements will diminish the risk of fatal and serious injury crashes…” (Brainerd Dispatch, 08/09/2023)  

Photo Credit: MnDOT Website