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 (Metro)

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 maintains a list of areas within the Metro District where residential noise standards are exceeded. These areas are ranked based on existing noise levels, the number of homes adjacent to the highway, and the cost effectiveness of a potential noise barriers. The list is updated every five years.

MnDOT uses a solicitation to select standalone noise barrier projects from the ranking list. Interested cities must fill out an application form 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 March 2022

Score City Hwy Description   Estimated cost  Year 
100 Minnetonka US169 Build approximately 2935 ft of noisewall on the southbound side of US169 from Country Lane to Cedar Lake Road  $2,200,000 2027
97 Eagan I-35E Build approximately 2223 ft of noisewall on the northbound side of I-35E from Woodstone Circle to Kingswood Court.   $1,600,000 Not Selected
97 Plymouth US169 Build approximately 3425 ft noisewall on the southbound side of 17th Ave north and Medecine Lake Road  $2,600,000 Not Selected
89 Inver Grove Heights US52 Build approximately 987 ft Noisewall on the southbound side of US 52 from north of 65 St E to east of 63rd and Beckman  $700,000 Not Selected
81 Eagan I-35E Build approximately 1084 ft noisewall on the northbound side of north Englert Road and north Pond View Road  $800,000 Not Selected
75 New Brighton I694 Build approximately 804 ft noisewall on the eastbound side of 10th St NW and Old Highway 8  $600,000 Not Selected
52 New Brighton I-694 Build approximately 1098 ft noisewall on the eastbound side of I-694 from West of Silver Lake Road to east of St Imier Dr. NE  $800,000 Not Selected
40 Minnetonka MN7 Build approximately 2035 ft noisewall eastbound from Bayswater Rd to Clear Spring Road  $1,500,000 Not Selected
11 Apple Valley I-35E/MN77 Build approximately 3141 ft noisewall from I-35E wall to MN77 wall in both directions  $500,000 Not Selected
16 New Brighton I-694 Build approximately 1680 ft noisewall on the westbound side of I-694 from west of Silver Lake Road to east of Brenner Pass  $1,200,000 Not Selected
19 Apple Valley MN77 Build approximately 1320 ft noisewall on the southbound side of MN77 from Gossamer to 138th St W.  $1,000,000 Not Selected

Previous years