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1. NEED FOR PROPOSED ACTION The purpose of this project is to construct an environmentally sensitive preferred alternative for a transportation system improvement designed to solve critical travel safety and congestion problems. The preferred alternative must be consistent with meeting these identified needs discussed below. ➢ Improve Safety — Crash rates and crash severities in several areas of the study corridor are much higher than average for similar -type roadways. Pedestrian safety is also an issue, particularly in the communities of Pequot Lakes, Jenkins and Pine River. ➢ Reduce Congestion — Daily traffic demand at times reaches capacity for the segment of roadway between Nisswa and County Road 16 in Jenkins and traffic increases dramatically during the summer peak periods, resulting in substantial congestion throughout much of the corridor. Traffic demand will nearly double by 2030, far exceeding the highway's capacity and severely degrading travel conditions in the area. ➢ Correct Design Deficiencies — The roadway's design is deficient given the current use of the roadway. The deficiencies include excessive access points, substandard curves limiting sight distance and design speeds and locations with substandard shoulders and turn lanes. 2. ROUTE LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED DESIGN Existing Alignment with Pequot Lakes Bypass Figure 1 shows the location of the proposed project (Alternative 3MOD). The project proposes the expansion of Minnesota State Highway 371 to a four -lane divided roadway on its existing alignment from County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 18 in Nisswa to just south of County Road (CR) 107/168 in Pequot Lakes. At that point, Highway 371 will be reconstructed on a new alignment extending along the east edge of the downtown Pequot Lakes area; intersecting CSAH 11 approximately one -half mile east of the existing junction of Highway 371 and CSAH 11. The bypass would continue north and converge with the existing Highway 371 alignment approximately 1.5 miles south of the existing Highway 371 /CSAH 16 intersection and continue north along the existing alignment through Jenkins to CR 2/42 in Pine River. The intersections at CSAH 18, CSAH 11, CSAH 16 and Minnesota State Highway 84 are planned to be signalized. The Pequot Lakes Bypass segment of the project from south of CR 107/168 to approximately 1.5 miles south of CSAH 16 would be access controlled with only three at- grade access points planned for the entire length of the bypass. The proposed access points include the junctions of CR 107/168 at the south end of the bypass, CSAH 11 and CR 112. The proposed project includes the purchase of right -of -way needed for the construction of a future interchange at the junction of the bypass and Crow Wing CSAH 11. v