Lakeville's 185th and Kenwood Roundabout Is Getting "Mumble Strips" and a Big New Study
TLDR
Crashes keep happening at the Kenwood Trail and 185th Street roundabout in Lakeville.
Dakota County planned to add "mumble strips" the weekend after the Sept. 17 meeting.
A consultant is starting a deeper study. Options include right-turn lanes or a return to a stoplight.
Expect news in spring or summer 2027, with any bigger fix aimed before 2029.
If you drive through Kenwood Trail and 185th Street in Lakeville, you already know the deal. At the Sept. 17 Lakeville Planning Commission meeting, a commissioner said it seems like there's a fender bender there almost every week. City engineer Zach Johnson agreed, and he laid out what's happening next.
Why This Roundabout Keeps Making Headlines
The intersection used to be a stoplight. About 12 years ago, the city and county widened the roads and put in a two-lane roundabout to cut down on backups.
It did help some things. Johnson said it cut down the worst crashes, like right-angle "T-bone" wrecks. But smaller crashes keep piling up. The commissioner said they show up almost weekly in the police section of the city manager's update.
It's also just busy. Johnson said it's likely one of the most heavily used two-lane roundabouts "probably in the nation." We dug into the crash numbers and the county's three options back in July.
Step One: Mumble Strips
Over time, the city and county have added more signs and new pavement markings, including some last year. The next small fix is "mumble strips."
"If you think rumble, take it in half and it won't be as bumpy," Johnson explained. They're grooves in the pavement that buzz your tires. The goal is to help drivers stay in their lane as they go around.
Dakota County planned to install them the weekend right after the meeting, with some short closures. "Everybody will know what a mumble is after that," Johnson said.
Step Two: A Deeper Study
The small fixes haven't solved it. So Dakota County just hired a consultant to dig in. Johnson said they want to know why the crashes are happening and where. Then they'll look at whether drivers need more education, or whether the design needs to change.
Bigger options on the table include:
Free right-turn lanes (lanes that let you skip the roundabout when you're turning right)
Turning it back into a stoplight
Johnson guessed the study will take six to nine months. There will be public input along the way. KARE 11 has called it Lakeville's "roundabout problem," and the Star Tribune has covered the options the county is weighing.
Why 2029 Matters
In 2029, work starts on the I-35 and County Road 50 interchange, and one bridge will close for part of that year. That's going to push more traffic onto nearby roads. Johnson said if a bigger fix is needed at the roundabout, the goal is to build it before the interchange closes.
He doesn't expect any more changes at the roundabout this year beyond the mumble strips.
The Bottom Line
If you drive this roundabout, expect a new buzzing feeling under your tires. Watch for a chance to weigh in once the county's study gets going. Johnson said the city should have more to share in spring or summer of 2027. You can find county project news on Dakota County's transportation pages, and we'll keep tracking it on our Lakeville page.
