Minnesota Department of Transportation

511 Travel Info

Complete Streets

Complete Streets in Minnesota communities

Hwy 61 in Grand Marais

Highway 61 after construction, showing lane adjustment (left) and shared-use path (right)
Highway 61 after construction, showing lane adjustment (left) and shared-use path (right).

Background

Highway 61 runs northeast-southwest through the city of Grand Marais, bisecting its downtown and connecting residents to Lake Superior. It also connects Grand Marais residents to services outside of the city and represents an important route for visitors who contribute to the city’s tourism-based economy.

Before the project, old pavement, limited bike accessibility, and minimal pedestrian accommodations prevented Grand Marais from ensuring a safe multimodal travel experience for both visitors and local residents.

The goal of the project focused on updating infrastructure, improving pedestrian mobility and safety, promotion of community public health, and supporting tourism-related businesses along the corridor.

Complete Streets elements

Landscaping and lighting

Amenity zones serve as a buffer between pedestrian and vehicle traffic and provide an inviting street environment. Improved lighting, trees, planters, benches, and waste receptacles create a strong street character.

Lane adjustment

Vehicle travel lanes were maintained at 12 feet wide, but shoulder widths were greatly reduced to narrow the overall roadway width. Narrower roadways promote slower driving speeds, contributing to a safer roadway by reducing the severity of crashes and shortening crossing distance.

Shared-use path

A shared-use path is physically separated from motor vehicle traffic. Separation from motor vehicle traffic can increase comfort for people walking and biking.

Curb extensions

Curb extensions, also called bulb outs or bump outs, extend a small section of sidewalk into the roadway at intersections or midblock crossings.

Before and after

Before

Hwy 61 and West First Street in Grand Marais before construction
Hwy 61 and West First Street in Grand Marais before construction

After

Hwy 61 and West First Street in Grand Marais after construction showing plantings and benches
Hwy 61 and West First Street in Grand Marais after construction showing plantings and benches

Complete Streets themes

Collaboration

A community visioning process ahead of project design helped inform a reconstruction project that prioritized benefits identified by Grand Marais residents. Stakeholder meetings, open houses, radio interviews, and other engagement sessions built upon the work of the visioning process throughout the project. MnDOT also collaborated with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the City, and Cook County to accomplish additional goals around stormwater, aging city utilities, contamination clean-up.

Community

Grand Marais boasts a thriving art scene, offers cultural events in music, craft, and theater, and supports many restaurants and locally owned businesses. Special consideration was given to greenspaces and public art spaces to reflect the City’s identity and encourage residents and visitors to enjoy the City’s amenities.

Safety

Curb extensions were installed alongside a new signal, and marked crosswalks along with continuous sidewalks were included on both sides of the road. These elements maximize pedestrian safety and encourage walking along the corridor.

Active Transportation

This project placed a heavy emphasis on improving walking and biking paths, the project area being part of U.S. Bicycle Route 41, the connection to the Gitchi-Gami State Trail, and being a priority for the City of Grand Marais. Curb extensions, a new signal, marked crosswalks, and continuous sidewalks on both sides of the road were key Complete Streets elements. The roadside integrated plantings to create a more human-scale environment and new lighting improves visibility for people biking or walking while preserving the North Shore dark sky environment.