Downtown Subarea Traffic Analysis and Design -
City of Mankato, Minnesota
As part of the City Center Renaissance Plan, the City of Mankato contracted with Bolton & Menk, Inc. to complete the design of the extension of 2nd Street between Plum Street and Main Street, including the creation of an at-grade, signalized intersection with Mulberry Street at the east end of the veterans Memorial Bridge. The connection of 2nd Street, coupled with the conversion from one-way pairs to two-way streets on Broad Street and 4th Street, results in a substantial change in travel patterns in the downtown area.
Bolton & Menk completed a subarea analysis of daily travel patterns and peak hour traffic demands within a sixteen-block area of downtown. With more than 100,000 vehicles entering and exiting the subarea each day, a change in the City street grid had the potential for sever traffic congestion. Using traffic simulation of the subarea, Bolton & Menk evaluated potential travel times, intersection delays, and other measures to identify necessary geometric improvements and traffic control needs.
Bolton & Menk completed the detailed design for the recommended improvements with construction scheduled for late 2009.