10-13-2021 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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STAFF REPORT TO: Mayor Keis and Members of City Council FROM: Bill Dircks, Public Works Director DATE: October 8, 2021 RE: Keller Parkway Culvert Fencing The Ramsey Washington Metro Watershed District (RWMWD) recently completed the installation of two new box culverts under Keller Parkway to convey water from Gervais Creek into Lake Gervais. The old culvert had a galvanized metal railing running along it that was in disrepair. The current project calls for upgraded black vinyl-coated fencing to be installed along the top of the culverts and angle back toward each property surrounding the creek to prevent vehicles or pedestrians from going into the creek. In total, there is 140-feet of fencing scheduled included in the project at a cost of $7,000. A Little Canada resident and neighboring property owner has asked if the City could consider installing a more decorative railing in lieu if the fencing to provide a more aesthetically pleasing look for drivers, pedestrians, and neighboring properties. The railing must be a minimum of five feet high and be built to MN/DOT standards to meet Ramsey County specifications, which is responsible for Keller Parkway. Staff researched costs for this type of railing, and it would likely start at $150 per linear foot or more. The minimum total cost to replace all of the fencing with railing would be approximately $21,000 which would be $14,000 more than the cost of the fencing. Staff is working with the Watershed District to see if it would be willing to contribute more to the cost of the project for decorative railing. Another factor to consider is the unique setup of the culverts and their relation to the road and shoulder. The culvert lengths were extended to have more room between the road edge and the culvert ends. This provides a better buffer for pedestrians and allows for future expansion if a future trail should be installed along Keller Parkway. The current design calls for a section of gravel between the road and the culverts and the top edge of the culvert is below the final grade of the roadway. A typical bridge has a concrete barrier that is two or three feet higher than the road edge. A decorative railing on top of the concrete barrier is a nice look, but a decorative railing rising from five feet below the roadway may look odd. Since it is unlikely that a decorative railing could be installed before next summer, staff is recommending that the project continue with the installation of vinyl-coated fencing and it can be re-evaluated once the entire project is complete. Ramsey County representatives have suggested that they may consider adding a pedestrian trail along Keller Parkway in the coming years. If that moves forward, that may be the time to evaluate aesthetics around the entire lake and consider upgrading the current fencing. The following pages include images of the old (previous) railing, current project area, and other bridges and railing locations around Lake Gervais. This is being provided as an informational item and staff is requesting further input from the City Council on long-term preferences for this location.