Minnesota Local Road Research Board
by LRRB
A Light Surface Treatment, also known as a bituminous surface treatment, is a relatively new method for preserving a gravel or dirt road surface. The LRRB developed a half-day training curriculum to help counties and townships select the right treatment and successfully apply it.
A recent LRRB project, “Strategies for Effective Roundabout Approach Speed Reduction,” provides the methodology to select, install, and evaluate treatments at different locations. This project had two goals: To analyze […]
Local transportation agencies are facing severe challenges in keeping roads safe and in good repair. Among those challenges are aging infrastructure, increasing material costs, and stagnant or decreasing funding levels. […]
Project will develop guidance on preparing for and adapting to connected and automated vehicle (CAV) technology, including policy and infrastructure development. Researchers may develop a local agency repository for CAV resources […]
This project will develop a resource guide about the effectiveness (application & cost) of fog sealing over chip-sealed roads. It will include a survey/interview of local agencies, followed by analysis […]
This project will develop a resource, possibly a quick reference guidebook, for practitioners to better understand pavement performance of overlays and new construction related to ride quality and reflective cracking. […]
This quick reference guide helps local agencies select appropriate crosswalk treatments based on roadway type, vehicle volumes and posted speed limits.
Minnesota is recognized as a leader in bike friendliness; however, local agencies struggle to know how to best accommodate additional users, specifically bicyclists, within their transportation system. This research implementation […]
Asset management is critical for local and state government to not only track assets but to plan for maintenance of assets that will provide the greatest return on investment for […]
The most recent implementation study on manholes is a 2001 LRRB study. In addition to being out-of-date, the study does not address catch basins. Other than this study, very little […]
The goal of this project is to develop a field tool for local agencies to successfully and efficiently document construction inspection activities and pay item progress. The project will also […]
The City Engineers of Minnesota Annual Conference will be Jan. 29 – 31, 2020 at the Early Brown Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center. Make sure to check out the “LRRB Update” at 9:20 a.m. on Thurs. Jan. 30, 2020.
The Minnesota County Engineers Association Annual Conference will be Jan. 21-24, 2020 at Cragun’s Resort and Hotel on Gull Lake. Make sure to attend “The Pavement Doctor Has Left the Building” at 10:30 a.m. on Wed. Jan 22, 2019.
The City of Edina Engineering Department has developed a temporary roadside turf irrigation system with inexpensive common parts for the roadsides of smaller city road and utilities reconstruction projects as a more efficient and cost-effective alternative to water truck irrigation.
Keeping Minnesota’s roadsides green is about more than just aesthetics—healthy turfgrass can improve water quality, reduce erosion and road noise, and provide animal habitat. However, harsh conditions such as heat, drought, and salt use can make it difficult for roadside turfgrass to thrive. Researchers tested a wide variety of turfgrass cultivars over several growing seasons in five states to help agencies select the right specifies for their roadways.
This November 2019 LTAP workshop covered all aspects of rehabilitation for concrete pavements, concrete curb and gutter, and median sidewalk pavement.
A new LRRB-sponsored workshop will provide an overview of the available technology and tools that make implementing a pavement preservation program feasible.
Researchers showed that cold in-place recycling and full-depth reclamation with chip seals are often more cost-effective than full pavement reconstruction of rural asphalt roads. Check out the research report for other cost-effective alternatives.
The Local Road Research Board hosted “A Guide to Successfully Convert Severely Distressed Paved Roads to Engineered Unpaved Roads” on Oct. 29, 2019 from 10 – 11:30 a.m.
The LRRB was featured on Edina TV on Sept. 16, 2019. The City of Edina’s Engineering staff is testing a new irrigation system in hopes of finding a more efficient and cost-effective way of replacing grass and vegetation following a road reconstruction project.