04-10-2002 Council Workshop Minutes

Home Browse Search

MINUTG5 CITY COUNCIL, APRiL 10, 2002 Donald Heinel asked if there were any plans to eliminate the Edgerton Street bridge. He noted that the LaBore Road bridge will be improved, and suggested that in doing so perhaps entrance and exit ramps could be added and the Edgerton Street bridge could be eliminated. Pafko reported that the Edgerton Street and LaBore Road bridges are and will remain regional connections and entrance and exit ramps will not be added to either. Donald Heinel asked if the LaBore Road bridge would be widened. Marc Goess, MN DOT, reported that the focus is currently on the Edgerton Street bridge and planning has not yet started for the LaBore Road bridge. Montour asked about trafTc impact on Little Canada once the Unweave the Weave project begins. Gibbens reported that the State will not detour traffc on community roads, and they are currently studying alternatives with the goal of limiting the impact on tratlic through communities. I-lowever, the State will not be able to prevent drivers fi'om taking short cuts utilizing convnunity roads. The Public Works Director indicated that there will be increased traffic through Little Canada during the Unweave the Weave project. For this reason, the improvement of Edgerton Street has been delayed until the State's project is completed. Patko indicated that construction staging will be used as part of the Unweave the Weave project to keep a means of traffic flowing through the 35E/694 Interchange. Gibbens reported that MN DOT is proposing to double the amount of lanes along 694 from the current six lanes to twelve. As a result, the Edgerton Street bridge will have to span twelve lanes of traffc. Gibbens also reported that MN DOT is proposing to raise the elevation of 694, therefore, the elevation of the bridge will be raised by 3.5 feet. Gibbens outlined three reasons for raising the elevation of 694. These reasons are: • Raising the grade will make it easier to drain the interstate and keep water out of the subgrade thus reducing maintenance costs for the freeway and increasing its life span; • Raising the grade of the interstate pavement will increase the efficiency of the pavement for surface drainage of the pavement and shoulders thus increasing safety, allowing the installation of fewer catch basins, and reducing the diameter of stone sewer piping that will be necessary; • Raising the grade will reduce time and cost of construction given the reduced need for subgrade excavation and hauling, as well as will result in reduced maintenance costs. Fahey asked if the project would alleviate flooding problems. Gibbens replied that 2