Cable median barrier to improve safety on Highway 169 south of Zimmerman

Single-lane closures begin May 4

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Starting Monday, May 4, motorists will encounter periodic lane closures on Highway 169 south of Zimmerman as the Minnesota Department of Transportation installs high-tension cable median barrier.

Watch for roadwork signs, lane closures, lane shifts and reduced speeds between Sherburne County Road 74/237th Avenue and 253rd Avenue. Expect multiple crews and equipment working at different locations within the two-mile work zone.

Work will occur Monday through Friday on good weather days during daylight hours until June 30. Both traffic lanes will be open on weekends.

High-tension cable median barriers are made of three or four steel cables strung on posts. When a vehicle hits the barrier, the posts break and cables flex, absorbing much of a crash’s kinetic energy. This redirects the vehicle along the median, preventing a severe or fatal cross-median crash.

When complete, the $600,000 safety improvement project is intended to prevent crossover collisions with oncoming motorists and save lives.

Motorists should also note that Sherburne County is leading a separate project to construct a new interchange on Highway 169 and County Road 4 in Zimmerman, just north of this work zone. That project is also underway and may contribute to additional delays in the area. Visit the project web page for details at clients.bolton-menk.com/hwy169andcr4.

To learn more about the benefits of cable median barriers, visit MnDOT’s traffic engineering webpage.

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