Minnesota Administrative Rules
Agency 175 - Transportation Department
Chapter 8820 - LOCAL STATE-AID ROUTE STANDARDS, FINANCING
EXHIBITS, FIGURES, AND TABLES
Part 8820.9936 - MINIMUM DESIGN STANDARDS, URBAN; NEW OR RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 13, September 23, 2024
New or reconstruction projects for urban roadways must meet or exceed the minimum dimensions indicated in the following design chart.
| Functional Classification and Projected Traffic Volume | Design Speed | Lane Width (a) | Curb Reaction Distance (e) | Parking Lane Width |
| mph | feet | feet | feet | |
| Collectors or Locals with ADT < 10000 | 30-40 | (b) 11 | 2 | 8 |
| over 40 | 12 | 2 | 10 | |
| Collectors or Locals with ADT >= 10000 and Arterials | 30-40 | (b) 11 | (c) 4 | 10 |
| over 40 | 12 | (c) 4 | (d) 10 |
Engineering judgment may be used to choose a lane-width dimension other than the widths indicated in the chart for roadways. Factors to consider include safety, speed, population/land use, benefit/cost analysis, traffic mix, peak hourly traffic, farm equipment, environmental impacts, terrain limitations, bicycle traffic, pedestrian traffic, other nonmotorized uses, functional classification, or other factors. Widths less than those indicated in the chart require a variance in accordance with parts 8820.3300 and 8820.3400.
(a) One-way turn lanes must be at least ten feet wide, except 11 feet is required if the design speed is over 40 mph.
(b) Wherever possible, lane widths of 12 feet, rather than 11 feet, should be used.
(c) May be reduced to two feet if there are four or more traffic lanes and on one-way streets.
(d) No parking is allowed for six or more traffic lanes or when the posted speed limit exceeds 45 mph.
(e) Curb reaction must be provided only where parking is not provided.
One-way streets must have at least two through-traffic lanes.
When a median is included in the design of the two-way roadway, a one-foot reaction distance to the median is required on either side of the median. Minimum median width is four feet.
Urban design roadways must be a minimum nine tons structural axle load design.
Roadways not on the state-aid system are not subject to the minimum structural design strength requirements.
The minimum curb-to-curb width of a new bridge must be the required street width, but in no case less than required per Minnesota Statutes, section 165.04. HS 25 loading with AASHTO Standard Specifications or HL-93 loading with load and resistance factor design (LRFD) is required for new or reconstructed bridges and a minimum of HS 18 loading is required for all rehabilitated bridges. Where the new bridge approach roadway includes elements for the accommodation of pedestrians or bicycles, the new bridge width must also provide for pedestrians or bicycles unless pedestrians or bicycles are otherwise accommodated.
For ADT less than 150, the widths of bridges to remain must be at least the sum of the lanes. For ADT greater than or equal to 150, the widths of bridges to remain must be at least the sum of the lanes plus half the sum of the shoulders, parking lane, and curb reaction distance.
Clearance of 1.5 feet from the face of the curb to fixed objects must be provided when the posted speed is 40 to 45 mph. A ten-foot clear zone measured from the driving lane must be provided when the posted speed exceeds 45 mph.
For volumes greater than 15,000 projected ADT, at least four through-traffic lanes are required, unless a capacity analysis demonstrates that a different lane configuration achieves level of service D or better.
Statutory Authority: MS s 14.386; 14.389; 162.02; 162.09
