6.10. SR 06-16-1997Howard R, Green Gompany
QONSULTING ENGINEERS
June 11, 1997
File: 230-347-20
IT~ 6.10.
CON~II,TING I~iNI;INEER~
Formerly MSA
Consulting Engineers
Honorable Mayor and City Council
City of Elk River
13065 Orono Parkway
P.O. Box 490
Elk River, MN 55330
RE: TRUNK HIGHWAY 169 FENCING IMPROVEMENT
Dear Council Members:
We have now completed the plans and specifications for the fencing of the Trunk Highway 169
corridor from Main Street to 193rd Avenue. In completing this set of plans, we have discussed the
improvement with Gary Dirlam, the MnDOT District 3 Traffic Engineer, and have actually walked
the site with Roger Busch, MnDOT Maintenance Engineering Specialist.
Our plans and specifications propose a 6-foot high chain link fence. With the exception of three
locations, the fence will be placed one foot inside the highway right-of-way. The three exceptions
to this location are, first, along Dodge Avenue where the street is relatively close to the MnDOT
right-of-way. In this location, the fence will be moved 12 feet inside the highway right-of-way. This
will allow sufficient area for snow plowing and snow storage off the City street without damage to
the fence. The second location is along the Automall, Pizza Hut, and SuperAmerica on the west
side of Highway 169, just north of Main Street. In this location, we will propose that the fence be
located 30 feet off of the highway right-of-way line. Because the highway right-of-way is at the top
of the berm along the Automall, moving the fence 30 feet into the right-of-way will give the
perception from the Automall that the fence is only three feet high. We have also visually checked
the impact of the fence to the sign banner on this building, and find that at this location it will not
obstruct the site lines to the building signs. The third location is the large wetland just south of
Rick Foster's office. Here the fence will follow the edge of the water.
We have indicated to MnDOT that along the Automall area the City would agree to take care of
maintenance of the highway right-of-way behind the fence. Basically, this would consist of cutting
the grass. We have also indicated to J. R. of J. R. Tech that the City would require that business
owners, in turn, agree to do this maintenance. We have reviewed these fence locations with J. R.
of J. R. Tech and with Gary Santwire.
In all other areas, due to the location one foot off of the right-of-way line, there will be a significant
number of trees that need to be trimmed, and in the area on the east side of Highway 169, south
of 5th Street, a row of trees in the highway right-of-way will need to be removed in order to install
the fence. We have reviewed the situation with Roger Busch and he has made the decision that
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Honorable Mayor and City Council
Jane 11, 1997
Page Two
MnDOT would rather remove trees and/or trim trees rather than locate the fence further into the
highway right-of-way. The reason for this is that MnDOT is concerned about having to provide
maintenance on both sides of the fence.
Finally, we have researched the green vinyl-coated fence around the pond on 193rd Avenue. We
contacted Mr. Lee Anderson of Century Fence Company to inquire about the added cost of this
type of fence. He indicated it would add between $6.00 and $7.00 per linear foot. This additional
cost would be entirely borne by the City, according to Gary Dirlam. Based on approximately 12,000
feet of fencing, the City's cost would be between $72,000 and $84,000 for vinyl coating.
At the. June 16, 1997, City Council meeting, I will have a set of plans and aerial photos available
if the Council would like to discuss any of these locations in detail. After the June 16 City Council
meeting, we will submit the plans and specifications to MnDOT for their review and approval. We
still anticipate a July letting of this project along with the lighting improvement project which MnDOT
is currently designing.
Sincerely,
Howard R, Green Company
Terry J. Maurer, P.E.
34?-1112.jun
Howard R, Green Company
CONSULTING ENGINEERS