07/06/2009 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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As part of the project development process, a Project Memorandum (PM) was previously prepared to document the purpose and need of the project. The PM was submitted and approved as part of an Environmental Assessment (EA) done for the adjacent CSAH 14 project (S.P. 02- 614 -24) to the west. The EA was published in the Environmental Quality Board (EQB) on October 9, 2006. The EA was signed by FHWA on June 5, 2007 and the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was distributed on June 18, 2007. Included in the PM was a traffic analysis based on the AUAR. This traffic analysis produced expected levels of service for the existing, 2030 No- Build, and the 2030 Build. The 2030 No -Build analysis showed the ramp intersections along CSAH 14 to fail under the increased traffic. Proposed Project The proposed project includes total reconstruction of the CSAH 14 & I -35E interchange into a partial cloverleaf configuration. The project also includes the widening of CSAH 14 from two lanes to four lanes, between 950 feet west of the west ramps and 800 feet east of the east ramps of the interchange, and the replacement of the CSAH 14 bridge over I -35E, Bridge #020803. See Figure 3. The new interchange will include directional ramps in all four quadrants plus loops in the northwest and northeast quadrant to handle the significant turn move demand for the morning and afternoon traffic. No improvements to mainline I -35E are included in the project, however, the inside shoulders along I -35E will be replaced due to construction staging. The CSAH 14 profile will be raised approximately four feet to accommodate the new, longer bridge over 1 -35E. A Cast -in -Place (CIP) retaining wall will be utilized to eliminate direct right of way impacts to Bobby and Steve's Auto World property located south of CSAH 14 and west of 1 -35E. The Southwest Ramp will include an HOV bypass to accommodate a future Park and Ride facility planned for the future. The HOV bypass will provide an advantage to mass transit users since it will bypass the metered signal along the ramp. (The future Park and Ride facility will be funded by Metro Transit and is not included in the construction or right of way costs for the interchange project.) Traffic signal systems will be constructed along CSAH 14 at both ramp intersections as well as the 21st Ave. intersection. The traffic signal systems will be inter - connected to coordinate traffic flow along CSAH 14. CSAH 14 & I -35E Interchange Project Feasibility Study July 2009 Page 6