Minnesota Department of Transportation

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Project selection

Increasing the transparency of how we select highway construction projects

Specialty and competitive programs

Standalone Noise Barrier Program (Greater Minnesota)

The Standalone Noise Barrier Program provides funding for construction of noise barriers along state highways in areas where no noise abatement measures currently exist and no major construction projects are currently programmed. The majority of the residential units that would benefit from a noise barrier must have been constructed prior to 1997.

MnDOT uses a solicitation to select standalone noise barrier projects. Interested cities apply for funding and provide information about the area where a noise barrier is being requested. MnDOT then conducts a noise study and scores the applications.

Applications are scored out of 100 points based on a calculation of Intensity Adjusted Cost Effectiveness. This calculation is based on the cost of the noise barrier, the number of residential units that will receive at least 5 decibels of noise reduction, and the existing noise level compared to the federal threshold.

Any noise barriers constructed under this program must meet the criteria for feasibility, reasonableness, and cost effectiveness identified the MnDOT’s 2017 Noise Requirements.

What’s been selected?

Related links

How the projects scored

The construction costs shown on this list represent a very rough estimate based on limited information available at the time selection decisions were made. Actual construction and delivery costs will change over time as projects go from a concept through the project development process and are eventually constructed. View more detailed scores (Excel).

Last updated December 2019

Score City Route Description Meets Cost Effective Threshold Estimated Cost Year
100 St. Michael I-94 Build approximately 460 ft noise wall on the westbound side along Nelmark Ave NE Yes $225,000 2022