Mumble strip (OTC)
Otter Tail County, MN – The Otter Tail County Highway Department announces the installation of fifty-three miles of centerline mumble strips during the 2024 construction season.
“Residents may wonder why the county considered this project,” shared County Engineer Krysten Foster, “The newer design is a different style, which is intended to be less annoying for adjacent property owners. This project is the first ‘mumble strip’ project in Otter Tail County.”
Before-and-after studies find that centerline rumble strips reduce life-changing crashes by as much as 51%.
Further, a recent Local Road Research Board study found the details of mumble strips significantly reduce exterior noise compared to traditional rumble strips.
“Someone standing approximately fifty feet from a mumble strip can expect to hear ambient noise that is comparable to background noise generated by a washing machine or a dishwasher,” said Foster.
The highways selected for this year’s project were chosen through a risk assessment that analyzed the highway width and amount of traffic that uses each road.
Work is expected to be complete by mid-August.
This investment is funded in part by a federal highway safety improvement program grant.
Click here for more details on Otter Tail County’s highway safety plan.
(Story by Otter Tail County)