11-26-2003 Council Workshop Minutes

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL NOVEMBER 26, 2003 so that drivers can temporarily reroute. Soler indicated that MN DOT and the County will have to respond quickly and get information out as needed. Blesener asked about the Edgerton by-pass. Pafko explained that at some point in the project, traffic traveling north on 35E that wishes to go west on 694 will be diverted to the Edgerton Bridge and turned around using a separate, walled-off traffic lane. Soler expressed concern that there would be a huge back up at the point that 35E changes to 694. Soler felt this backup would result in a lot of traffic diverting to Centerville Road or Edgerton Street. Pafko explained the separate lane that will be used for the bypass, and felt that this would prevent the type of backup that Soler was concerned about. Pafko reported that the plan is to replace the Edgerton bridge in 2004, do the shoulder work associated with the Unweave the Weave project in 2005, and stated that it will not get "real bad" until 2006 and 2007. Pafko also reported that the contract doing the shoulder work in 2005 will want to work at night, and will need a variance to do so. The City Administrator suggested that the contract require that the contractor work at night to minimize the impact on traffic. MN DOT noted that night work will not provide for more traffic lanes during the day, but will allow the contractor to work more productively since there is less trafTic on the road at night. The City Administrator noted that the issue of traffic mitigation appears to fall entirely on the City and the County. The Administrator indicated that the City would work cooperatively with the County on this issue. Soler indicated that the County will work with the Cities of Little Canada and Vadnais Heights on a traffic plan and riy to come up with some mitigating measures. There maybe the need for temporary signals or the addition of turn lanes in some locations. The Administrator asked if a second designated detour could be identified. The Administrator suggested moving the Rice Street Bridge work up in the cycle. Pafko stated that given the design changes, it is not physically possible to get the Rice Street Bridge under construction in 2005. The Mayor thanked MN DOT and the County for the information provided this evening. The City Administrator requested additional information on the noise walls in preparation for the neighborhood meeting the City would hold. He further noted that the City would have to hold a Public Hearing on the project early in 2004.