Flash Flood Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment Pilot Project
Flood waters washing out road and bridge in District 1
MnDOT was one of 19 Climate Resilience Pilot projects selected by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) as part of an effort to evaluate the FHWA Climate Change & Extreme Weather Vulnerability Assessment Framework. The project assessed vulnerability and risk of increased flooding to the trunk highway system in MnDOT District 1 (Northeastern MN) and District 6 (Southeastern MN). The project included a system-wide vulnerability assessment and a focused evaluation of adaptation options for at-risk facilities in each District.
The goals of the pilot project were to:
- Better understand the vulnerability of the state’s trunk highway system (interstates, US routes, and state roads) to flash flooding events
- Develop a process to identify cost-effective planning and design solutions to increase resiliency
- Support MnDOT’s asset management planning efforts
- Provide feedback to FHWA on the assessment process