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MFMO 1u; Clerk -Administrator and City Council <br />OOW FROM: Director of Public Works/Community Development <br />DAI'Et ,IONt; No 1986 <br />SIKIECT: COIINTY ROAD I AND HIGHWAY IU INTERSECTION <br />Attached please find my letter to Ken Weltzin of Ramsey County <br />dated .Iune 16, 1996, requesting that two lanes be painted on <br />eastbound County Road I at its intersection with Highway 10. <br />I called Mr. Weltzin on ,June 24, 1986, to delay the work <br />requested at the nnbiect intersection until we have had a chance <br />to discuss this issue further. lie said that they would wait <br />until they received another letter to start the work at County <br />Road I and Hiqhway 10. <br />The letter was sent because staff has received numerous phone <br />calls from residents that drive from west to east through the <br />intersection (as opposed to those that frequently turn right) <br />stating that they narrowly avoided an accident with another car <br />also driving west to east. The near accidents occur because the <br />eastbound twn lanes must funnel into one lane at the intersec- <br />tion. The traffic hazard will be eliminated when County Road 1, <br />east of Highway IU, is widened to four lanes. one solution to <br />this problem is to paint lines for two lanes on the east hound <br />• section of County Road I and label the left lane "left turn only" <br />and the right lane "through and right turn only". <br />If twr, lanes are painted and marked as indicated, another problem <br />is created. The unmarked existing surface of east bound County <br />Road I at the intersection of Highway 10 is wide enough to accom- <br />modate three vehicles while the signal light is red. The stopped <br />vehicle farthest to the right always turns right. Thus, an <br />unofficial right turn lane is created. If two lanes are painted <br />and the right lane is marked "through and right turn only", the <br />driver that turned right will need to wait longer than if the <br />lines are not painted. <br />The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) does not allow <br />a right turn lane at the intersection of Highway 10 and County <br />Road I like the one at the interesection of Highway 10 and Long <br />Lake Road because the angle of the intersection of County Road I <br />to Highway 10 is approximately 90 degrees and the angle of the <br />intersection of Highway 10 and Long Lake Road is approximately /5 <br />degrees. If the angle of intersection is less than 90 degrees, <br />MnDOT considers approving a right turn lane similar to the right <br />Lutn lane at Long Lake Road and Highway 10. <br />Ramsey County and MnDOT have determined that a full right turn <br />lane (approximately 200 feet long) is not needed at the inter- <br />section of County Road 1 and Highway IU at the present time. <br />Ramsey County and MnDOT approved Lhe construction plans of County <br />Road I without the right turn lane in 1984. <br />Staff requests direction on this issue. <br />SWT/bac <br />