Originally published by the Center for Transportation Studies, July 6, 20205 as Minnesota Mousetrap award winners: Crack Wagon De-Tack Sprayer and Curb Stop Wrench Truck Storage Solution | Minnesota LTAP

Congratulations to the recipients of Minnesota’s 2026 Build a Better Mousetrap awards! All Minnesota submissions were forwarded to the national mousetrap program in June. Awardees from across the country will be chosen by the National LTAP & TTAP Association in four categories.

Minnesota Pioneer Award

The City of St. Cloud’s Crack Wagon De-Tack Sprayer was recognized with the Minnesota Pioneer Award, given to a locally relevant product or tool that is among the first to solve a maintenance problem with a homegrown solution.

Problem: Spraying crack filler typically requires the work of multiple laborers and creates an unsightly mess of toilet paper, which is used for absorbing the sticky residue.

Solution: For $360, City of St. Cloud staff members created a 25-gallon flat-bottom tank that holds water and Dawn dish soap, complete with an attached hose and wand that can be used by one person to apply the solution. This eliminates the need for a follow truck to spray soapy water over the cracks, reducing the number of laborers on the road and amount of toilet paper clean-up. It’s an environmentally friendly solution that benefits both workers and residents.

SMART Transformation Award

The City of Waite Park received the SMART Transformation Award for its Curb Stop Wrench Truck Storage Solution. This recognition is awarded for a locally relevant significant change to any transportation activity or process that is SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound) and results in improved efficiencies. 

Problem: City of Waite Park staff members prefer to use crew cab pickup trucks for their work because of the interior storage capacity. But there’s an issue: longer truck cabs mean shorter beds. When storing and transporting materials such as curb stop wrenches, which are around 10 feet long, creative solutions are required.

Solution: The agency constructed a storage apparatus and installed it onto a ladder rack that sits above the truck bed. The device consists of exhaust tubing secured to front and rear plates with u-bolts and is equipped with a locking mechanism built from common gate hardware. The wrenches slide right into the tubes and are secured for transport — a convenient storage solution for just $175.

Honorable mention: City of St. Paul’s Improved No Parking Stake

Problem: City of St. Paul workers were frequently injured while hammering wooden “No Parking” signs into the ground.

Solution: By affixing a metal spike to the bottom of each sign, the signs can easily be pushed into the ground, removing the hazard of hammering entirely. This solution also decreases the sign installation time — an added bonus for staff members.

Learn more about award-winning projects from previous years.

The Minnesota Build a Better Mousetrap Competition is sponsored by the Minnesota Local Road Research Board and administered by MnLTAP.