05-26-2004 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTI/S CITY COUNCIL MAY 26, 2004 bridge connection to Country Drive. The County realizes that this would result in major implications for the Twin Lake area. However, the County is approaching the Council this evening to determine if there is any support for this concept. He noted that the County must consider regional needs as part of this project. Fahey asked if Twin Lake Blvd. would then become a County road. Tolaas replied that it would. Tolaas also noted that the connection of Twin Lake Blvd. to Country Drive existed prior to the freeway going through. Fahey asked the process for deciding the interchange modifications. Tolaas indicated that the options would continue to be explored and additional modeling would occur. Tolaas stated that the hope had been to complete the 694/Rice Street interchange project prior to the Unweave the Weave project. Both projects may now be done at the same time. Blesener asked about projections for increased traffic levels on Twin Lake Blvd. if the connection is made to Country Drive. 7blaas did not have that information. Blesener asked if the project would occur at no cost to the City. Tolaas replied that there will be a minimal cost to the City. Fahey asked if there was adequate right-of--way for Twin Lake Blvd. to make the changes being discussed. Tolaas was not sure. He noted that the plan would be to have atwo-lane roadway that may be constructed to urban standards as well. Tolaas indicated that there will need to be some property acquisition in the area where Vadnais Blvd. currently intersects with Rice Street. The County would hope to recapture property acquisition costs through increased redevelopment potential Tolaas also indicated that the County is not convinced that shifting Vadnais Blvd. would allow for a properly function intersection. Therefore, the Twin Lake Blvd. fly-over connection is being looked at. Other considerations are the impacts that the 694/Rice Street interchange project will have on the redevelopment potential of the County's property. Fahey expressed concern that Little Canada residents are being asked to bear the brunt of the impact of the interchange project for the benefit of Shoreview and Vadnais hleights residents as well as to maximize the redevelopment of the County's property. Fahey noted that the Twin Lake Blvd. fly-over connection will turn that roadway into a major thoroughfare. Blesener noted that the fly-over connection benefits everyone but Little Canada. Blesener pointed out that in addition to there being no benefit to Little Canada, the project will cost the City money. 21