5.6. SR 12-13-1999
ITEM 5.6.
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Howard R. Green Company
CONSULTING ENGINEERS
December 9, 1999
File: 808220J-0325
Honorable Mayor and City Council
City of Elk River
13065 Orono Parkway
Elk River, MN 55330
RE: TRUNK HIGHWAY 101 - BRIDGE REPLACEMENT
TRUNK HIGHWAY 10/MAINSTREET INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS
DearCoundlMembern:
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Recently, Michele McPherson, Director of Planning, and I were invited to attend a preliminary
meeting with Mn/DOT to discuss the upcoming bridge replacement they have scheduled for
Trunk Highway 101. Mn/DOT is planning to remove and totally reconstruct the northbound
bridge across the Mississippi River on Trunk Highway 101. This bridge was not replaced when
the highway was upgraded to four lanes a number of years ago. Mn/DOT antidpates this
project will begin sometime in late 2001 and will continueto the end of 2002. These preliminary
meetings were to discuss traffic issues that will result from the impact of the bridge construction.
Mn/DOT's thoughts right now are to convert the southbound TH 101 bridge to carry three lanes
of traffic. They are still considering whether or not it would be possible to use movable barriers
to provide two lanes of traffic in the direction of the rush hour traffic. Mn/DOT is also
considering many other options to try and lessen the impact, such as signed detours as far
away as 1-94 to direct traffic to other crossings of the Mississippi River. They will also provide
some type of media/public relations blitz to inform the motoring public of alternative routes.
No matter what the final outcome is for the plan to provide for traffic control during construction,
it is safe to assume that traffic in and around the construction area will be severely impacted.
One issue I have discussed briefly with Tom Dumont, Assistant District 3 Traffic Engineer, is
some type of improvement to the TH 10/Main Street intersection prior to the TH 101 bridge
replacement project. As the City Coundl is aware, this intersection is quite congested in both
the A.M. and P.M. peak hours. A number of years ago, the City Coundl considered several
conceptual layouts for improvements for this intersection but at that time elected not to proceed
with any of them. More recently, the City Coundl has briefly discussed the potential
improvement of this intersection. My discussion with Tom Dumont centered around whether or
not Mn/DOT would be willing to partidpate in a cooperative agreement project to try to improve
the geometrics and signalization at this intersection. This would be in anticipation of numerous
local drivers who will likely find and use this route as an alternative to TH 101, even though it
would not be a formal detour for the 101 bridge replacement project. Mr. Dumont indicated that
Mn/DOT would be very interested in looking at alternatives for the TH 10/Main Street
intersection.
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O:\PROJ\808220J\ltr 808220.0901.dec99.doc
1326 Energy Park Drive . St. Paul, MN 55108 . 651/644-4389 fax 651/644-9446 toll free 888/368-4389
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Honorable Mayor and City Council
December 9, 1999
Page Two
If the City Council so desires, we are prepared to investigate alternatives, estimated costs, and
land acquisition impacts in a preliminary analysis that would be suitable for City Council
consideration of the item, as well as discussion with Mn/DOT about their potential participation
in helping to fund such an improvement.
If you have any questions regarding this issue, I will be in attendance at the December 13,
1999, City Council meeting.
Sincerely,
Howard R. Green Company
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Terry J. Maurer, P.E.
0:\PROJ\808220J\ltr 808220.090GiQ~QJd R. Green Company
CONSULTING ENGINEERS