MnDOT Haul and Detour Routes – Impacts on Local Roads

Summary:

When local roads serve as haul routes or detours for construction, maintenance or other activities, heavy vehicle traffic can cause costly pavement damage for local agencies. Although MnDOT compensates local governments for structural deterioration, current methods are based largely on fuel tax revenue rather than the damage sustained. This project developed a new compensation method that measures the loss in pavement structural capacity before and after haul or detour use. It then estimates compensation based on the cost of an asphalt overlay needed to restore that lost capacity. The method gives local governments a practical framework for documenting pavement conditions and requesting compensation that more accurately reflects the damage caused.

Final Deliverables:

• MnDOT Haul/Detour Routes - Impacts on local roads (Report #2026-33)
• Compensating Local Agencies for Haul and Detour Route Damage (Research Summary)

Related Materials:

• New Project: MnDOT Haul and Detour Routes – Impacts on Local Roads  (Blog Post)

Related Research:

• Haul Road and Detour Maintenance

Project Personnel:

Principal Investigator:  Bora Cetin

Co-Principal Investigator:  Tim Gates, Syed Haider, Muhammed Kutay

Technical Liaison:  Tim Stahl

Project Coordinator:  Marcus Bekele

Panel Members: 
Benjamin Worel - Materials & Road Research
Brian Ketring - District 2
Brian Sorenson - Traffic Engineering
David Kramer - Winona County
Fausto Cabral Neto - District 6
Guy Kohlnhofer - Dodge County
Jason DiPiazza - Lake County Highway Department
Jerilyn Swenson - State Aid for Local Transp
Jonathan Large - Mahnomen County
Kelly Brunkhorst - District 8
Kristine Elwood - State Aid for Local Transp
Kyle Lake - District 6
Paul Johns - Construction & Innovative Contracting
Ross Hendrickson - District 2
Timothy Andersen - Materials & Road Research
Todd Howard - Dakota County