Corridor study in Hackensack
Visualizing a new corridor
In 2025, MnDOT will reconstruct Highway 371 in Hackensack with a three-lane section through town which will include a center-turn lane, with additional sidewalks and parallel parking on both sides of the road.
3-lane section
A reconstructed Highway 371 will include a three-lane section through town which will include a center-turn lane, with additional sidewalks and parallel parking on both sides of the road.
Roundabout
The intersection of Highway 371 and County Road 5 will be reconstructed with a roundabout. It will allow for First Street North and CR 5 to square up with Hwy 371 in a much safer manner. The roundabout will also slow traffic down, make the intersection more predictable for turning traffic and is designed to accommodate all of the traffic that uses the corridor now, including trucks, trailers and campers.
Community Collaboration
Our team has been engaging with the Hackensack community to gather input that will help our project team create a vision for Hwy 371. Our recent engagement efforts are below. We will continue to engage the community and business owners throughout the project.
- 3 Stakeholder Advisory Committee meetings
- 20 Business and property Owner Meetings
- 2 Interactive booths at community events (Sweetheart Days and Chainsaw Days in downtown Hackensack)
- 2 Online Open Houses – Spring 2020 Open House summary; Winter 2021 Open House Summary
- Over 2,300 people visited the online open houses
- Over 600 total public comments and input
What we heard from you
Sidewalks on both sides of the road
- 70% positive, 18% negative, 12% neutral
Themes and insights
- Negative feelings: Not needed on both sides; walkers use Paul Bunyan; unnecessary expense
- Positive feelings: Traffic is important to support local businesses. Do not like how dangerous it is to walk along Hwy 371 through Hackensack or cross the highway. Traffic does not slow down enough and there is nowhere for pedestrians to walk safely
Parallel parking on both sides of the road
- 51% positive, 24% negative, 25% neutral
Themes and insights
- Negative feelings: Poor large truck/trailer access, parallel design limits parking
- Positive feelings: Need spaces on both sides, convenient both directions, promotes development
Roundabout at Hwy 371/CR 5
- 49% positive, 40% negative, 11% neutral
Themes and insights
- Negative feelings: Strongly dislike roundabouts; concerns about impact on Swanson's Bait & Tackle
- Positive feelings: Safer than current design; slows traffic down; keeps traffic moving
Stakeholder Advisory Committee
In order to work more collaboratively with the community, MnDOT sought out community leaders and volunteers to work directly with project staff in order to develop and evaluate different project alternatives. This panel consisted of a diverse cross-section of community representatives that met regularly in order to study the project details in depth and will help to define the vision for the corridor.
- Along with learning more about traffic safety/engineering concepts, they:
- Took a more in depth look at the current issue's
- Prioritized community needs and preferences
- Developed and research possible solutions
- Cultivated and represent community members input
- Evaluated preferred alternatives
Corridor design
Using the conclusions from the Stakeholder Advisory Committee, business interviews, in-person events, along with the additional input provided by community members and stakeholders, the 3-lane section was selected for further review and development.
The concept includes one lane in each direction, a center turn lane, sidewalks, and parallel parking on both sides of the street throughout the downtown area. It will enhance mobility and safety for all users, while also staying within the existing MnDOT right-of-way.
Partnership
MnDOT and its partners have committed to work with the Hackensack community to ensure that the community’s concerns and aspirations are directly reflected in the alternatives developed as part of the Highway 371 Study and to provide feedback on how the community influenced recommendations and decisions.