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.

Last updated April 2024

Score City Hwy Wall length Description   Estimated cost  Year 
100 Plymouth US Hwy 169 3425 Southbound side of US Hwy 169 between 26th Ave N to 17th Ave N  $2,504,400 2029
97 Eagan I-35E 2223 Northbound side of I-35E from Woodstone Cir to Kingswood Ct  $1,589,760 Not Selected
83 Eagan I-35E 1084 Northbound side of I-35E from Englert Rd to north of Pond View Pt  $761,688 Not Selected
78 New Brighton I-694 840 Eastbound side of I-694 between 10th St NW and Old Highway 8  $583,200 Not Selected
70 Apple Valley I-35E 2817 Northbound side of I-35E between CR 11 to existing noise wall  $2,014,148 Not Selected
68 Minnetonka Hwy 7 2035 Eastbound side of Hwy 7 between Bayswater Rd to Clear Spring Rd  $1,451,088 Not Selected
68 New Brighton I- 694 1098 Eastbound side of I-694 from west of Silver Lake Rd to Torchwood Dr  $780,960 Not Selected
38 New Brighton I- 694 1680 Westbound side of I-694 between west of Silver Lake Rd to Brenner Pass  $1,153,152 Not Selected
35 Arden Hills US Hwy 10 3781 Southbound side of US 10 between Lake Shore Pl to south of Wedgewood Cir  $2,673,936 Not Selected

View more detailed scores (Excel).

Score City Hwy Description   Estimated cost  Year 
100 Minnetonka US Hwy 169 Build approximately 2935 ft of noisewall on the southbound side of US Hwy 169 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 US Hwy 169 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 US Hwy 52 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/Hwy 77 Build approximately 3141 ft noisewall from I-35E wall to Hwy 77 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 Hwy 77 Build approximately 1320 ft noisewall on the southbound side of Hwy 77 from Gossamer to 138th St W.  $1,000,000 Not Selected

Score City Hwy Description   Estimated cost  Year 
100 Inver Grove Heights US 52 Build 2389 feet of  noise wall on the southbound side of Hwy 52 from South of Mendota Rd. E to 49th St. E  $1,700,000 2026
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 US Hwy 169 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 US Hwy 52 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
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
35 Arden Hills US Hwy 10 Build approximately 3781 ft noisewall on the southbound side of US 10 from County Road 96 to south of Wedgewood Cir  $2,700,000 Not Selected
31 Apple Valley Hwy 77 Build approximately 685 ft noisewall from north of Glen Ct to south of Glen Ct  $500,000 Not Selected
19 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
16 Apple Valley Hwy 77 Build approximately 1320 ft noisewall on the southbound side of Hwy 77 from Gossamer to 138th St W.  $1,000,000 Not Selected

Score City Hwy Description  Meets cost effectiveness threshold  Estimated cost  Year 
100 Richfield Hwy 62 Build approximately 2,138 ft noise wall on the eastbound side from Washburn ave S East of Russel Ave south.  Yes $1,900,000 2025
56 Inver Grove Heights Hwy 52 Build approximately 2,389 ft noise wall on the southbound side ot South Mendota Road East and 49th St East. Yes $1,700,000 Not Selected 
48 Plymouth US Hwy 169 Build approximately 3425 ft noisewall on the southbound side of 17th Ave north and Medecine Lake Road Yes $2,500,000 Not Selected 
41 Eagan I-35E Build approximately 1084 ft noisewall on the northbound side of north Englert Road and north Pond View Road Yes $800,000 Not Selected 
17 Inver Grove Heights Hwy 52 Build approximately 1059 ft noisewall on the northbound side from 70th St East to 75th St East.  No $1,100,000 Not Selected 

Score City Route Description Meets Cost Effective Threshold Estimated Cost Year
100 New Hope  US Hwy 169 Build approximately 2,800 ft noise wall on the northbound side from north of Bass Lake Road to South of 63rd Ave N Yes $2,000,000 2023
97 Edina Hwy 62 Build approximately 1,450 ft noise wall on the westbound side from east of Red Fox Court to Bredese North Park Yes $1,000,000 2024
66 Plymouth US Hwy 169 Build approximately 3,425 ft noise wall on the southbound side from south of 17th Ave N to Medicine Lake Road N Yes $2,400,000 Not selected
53 Eagan I-35E Build approximately 1,075 ft noise wall on the northbound side from south of Englert Road to North Pond View PT Yes $730,000 Not selected
14 New Brighton I-694 Build approximately 1,000 ft noise wall on the eastbound side from Berne Circle E to west of Forest Dale Road No $670,000 Not selected