11/25/2002 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

• Spirit Hills. Page 6 of 12 1. They concur with URS' assessment that the intersection of CSAH 49 and CSAH 10 operates at unacceptable levels of service under existing and post development conditions. 2. The main cause of poor operating conditions is the inadequate lane geometry at the intersection, particularly for the southbound approach. 3. There will be a significant increase in intersection delay with the addition of Spirit Hills Commercial Center trips, as average vehicle delay will more than double in the a.m. and p.m. peak hours. 4. Nothing short of installing a traffic signal and adding a left-tum lane at the southbound approach will restore operations to acceptable levels of service for existing or post development conditions. It should be noted that the post development traffic generation is based on full site development. The County has further addressed the issues regarding the intersection of Hodgson Road /Birch Street in a letter dated November 20, 2002. The letter is in response to access issues for potential development on the Miller farm, located on the southeast corner of the Hodgson /Birch intersection, and incorporates issues from the Spirit Hills development. The County's letter sets forth the minimum requirements necessary to improve the Hodgson /Birch intersection and address turning movements into the respective developments. With specific regard to Spirit Hills, the letter reiterates the need to include left and right turn lanes on Birch Street as well as a right -turn lane on northbound Hodgson Road onto the Ware Road extension. The County further states that signalization of the intersection as well as construction of a southbound Hodgson Road left turn lane are needed in conjunction with the proposed developments. Anoka County has previously indicated, per a letter dated September 24, 2002, that they are planning to include the Hodgson /Birch Street intersection and Rice Creek Bridge, based on the original 120 -foot design standards, in their next Five Year CIP, pending City consent for the project. However, the timeline for completing the improvements as proposed would probably extend to 2005 or 2006. As part of the November 20, 2002 letter, the County submitted a concept plan for interim improvements of both Birch Street and Hodgson Road that addresses both turn lane and signalization issues. It is clear that the cost of design and turn lane construction would need to be borne by the respective developers. However, the letter does indicate that the County may be willing to participate in the cost of the signal construction. As stated in the URS study and TKDA review, installation of the signals and associated • turn lanes would alleviate both the existing and post - development traffic concerns at this intersection.