The Local Road Research Board publishes a wide range of transportation-related educational materials. Our most recent and popular guidebooks, manuals and courses are available below. For all research reports, go here.
Contact our staff at research.dot@state.mn.us for more information.

Minnesota Bike Lanes: Learning to Share
In this video, pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists in Minnesota identify some common misconceptions about bike lanes.

De-Icing Study: Putting the Products to the Test
Watch this video to see MnDOT-funded researchers transform parking lots into driving tracks to study the effects of weather and vehicle traffic on different deicing treatments.

What is the LRRB?
A short look at what the Minnesota Local Road Research Board does, and how it benefits city and county engineers, officials, and citizens.

Answers to Common Questions About Gravel Roads
More than half of U.S. roadways are gravel roads, making them an important part of our transportation system. Learn about gravel road construction, common problems with gravel roads, and how to keep a gravel road in the best condition.

Navigating a Multi-Lane Roundabout
Ever wonder why your road isn’t being repaired? This Minnesota Local Road Research Board video explains why roads go bad and why sometimes the worst roads aren’t fixed first.

Frost Damage in Pavement: Executive Summary
This is an abbreviated version of the full “Frost Damage in Pavement: Causes and Cures” video.

Frost Damage in Pavement: Causes and Cures
Frost damage is a costly aspect of roadway maintenance. This video shows laboratory experiments exploring how frost interacts with pavement, discusses methods of repairing damage and offers better designs to avoid damage in the first place.

Road Closed Signs: Beware and Be Aware
A tragic accident occurred in Cambridge, Minn., when a driver ignored a “Road Closed” sign and drove into a 30-foot-deep trench. This video shows the choices that led to this crash, the dangers of entering a construction area, and the importance of obeying Road Closed signs.

Construction Zone Safety: Our Responsibility
Scott Gabrio, a MnDOT maintenance worker, was seriously injured by a distracted driver in a construction zone. This video shows what happened to Scott and what we can all do to prevent similar crashes from happening in the future.

Choosing Stormwater Management Practices: A Decision Tree for Minnesota Cities
Based on a Local Road Research Board guide to stormwater best management practices, this video shows examples of various BMPs as local engineers explain how they have used them to keep stormwater pollutants out of Minnesota lakes and streams.

Minnesota Pothole Professionals: Smoothing the Way to Safer Travel
Local pothole professionals, like those featured in this video, respond to citizen reports of potholes and proactively patch potholes on an interim basis during the spring thaw and on a permanent basis throughout the warmer months.

Stop Signs: Why Do We Have Them on Residential Roads?
This video answers the common questions regarding stop signs, such as whether these signs really slow traffic and who decides where they’re placed.

Speed Limits: Why Do We Have Them?
This video addresses the frequently asked questions relating to speed limits: Do lower speeds slow traffic? And should residential speed limits differ from other types of roads?

Catch Basin Maintenance Repair Trailer
This video shows how the City of Lakeville Street Division was able to retrofit an existing trailer to meet their current needs, thanks to funding from the LRRB’s Operational Research Assistance Program.

Decision Tree for Stormwater BMPs
This tool, which can be used at the project scoping stage, assists city and county public works staff in the selection of best management practices appropriate for specific projects. This tool walks users through five steps in the selection process, and is intended for use with projects that don’t have a regional stormwater facility available.

Best Practices: Managing Interactions Between Local Authorities and Major Traffic Generators
This document presents guidelines for Minnesota county
engineers on how to interact with developers of “wind farms” (technically known as large wind energy conversion systems or LWECS). However, county engineers in other states, other road authorities, and wind power developers themselves also may find this information valuable.

Pavement Management: Better Data, Better Decisions, Better Roads at the Right Time
This video was developed to help local agencies understand and communicate the benefits of pavement management. It is targeted at non-users of pavement management or engineers wishing to convince their elected officials to implement a program.

Common Practices for Avoiding Bumps in Overlays
This booklet is intended to aid local and state highway construction, maintenance, and design staff understand the potential causes and possible remedies for bumps that occur during overlay construction.

Stormwater Maintenance BMP Resource Guide
This resource guide was created to supplement the Minnesota Stormwater Manual in regards to local government inspection and maintenance activities associated with various BMP categories. It can be used as a tool by city staff and policy makers for evaluating various BMPs to install based on anticipated long-term maintenance requirements.

Snowplow Salt and Sander Calibration Manual
This guide provides easy-to-use steps for calibrating snowplow sander controllers. It includes quick calibration sheets, calculation worksheets, and blank calibration forms for both manual and automatic controllers.