10.1 SR 03-18-2024City of
Elk -
River
To
City Council
Meeting Date
March 18, 2024
Item Description
225th Avenue and Highway 169 Intersection
Concerns
Request for Action
Item Number
10.1
Prepared By
Cal Portner, City Administrator
Reviewed by:
Cal Portner
Justin Femrite
Tina Allard
Action Requested
Receive information, discuss, and provide staff direction, if deemed necessary.
Background/Discussion
Following a tragic fatal accident near the intersection of TH 169 and 225th Avenue NW, a resident of a nearby
neighborhood sent an email message to the City Council and city administrator asking for safety
improvements to the area.
The Elk River Police Department reports there have been 18 accidents in the area over the past 10 years.
Financial Impact
N/A
Mission/Policy/Goal
Attachments
1. 225th Ave TH 169 Concerns
The Elk River Vision
A avelcoming community with revolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional service, and community p p W E H E U A i
engagement that encourages and inspires prosperity INMUR 229
Portner, Cal
Subject: 225th Avenue & Highway 169 - Request for Safety Study
From: Melanie Curtis
Sent: Monday, March 4, 2024 2:49 PM
To: Dietz, John <John.Dietz@ElkRiverMN.gov>; Grupa, Cory <Cory.Grupa@ElkRiverMN.gov>; Westgaard, Matt
<Matt.Westgaard@ElkRiverMN.gov>; Beyer, Mike <Mike.Beyer@ElkRiverMN.gov>; Wagner, Jennifer
<Jennifer.Wagner@ElkRiverMN.gov>; Portner, Cal <CPortner@ElkRiverMN.gov>; 'calvin.portner@elkrivermn.gov'
<calvin.portner@elkrivermn.gov>
Subject: 225th Avenue & Highway 169 - Request for Safety Study
Elk River Mayor John Dietz
Council Member Grupa
Council Member Westgaard
Council Member Beyer
Council Member Wagner
Elk River City Administrator Calvin Portner
My name is Melanie Curtis; I live with my family east of the Highway 169 corridor, north of Elk River, Minnesota. We live in a
neighborhood of approximately 20 homes; the intersection at US Trunk Highway 169 and 225th Avenue NW is our primary access.
As a parent with a young driver, I have been concerned about the safety of this intersection for years.
I am writing to you now because, on February 14th, an 8-year-old child tragically lost his life in a motor vehicle accident at this
intersection. As a result, the child's family is irrevocably scarred. This tragedy underscores the need for a safety study on this
corridor.
As you may be aware, MnDOT identifies Highway 169 as an important north -south arterial route. This particular intersection (225th
Avenue NW) is also the location of the main entrance to the Elk River Landfill operated by Waste Management where countless
semi -trucks enter and exit throughout the day. Over the years, this intersection has been improved including turning and
acceleration lanes and a widened highway crossover.
In April of 2022, MnDOT began converting Highway 169 within the City of Elk River into a freeway to address the over -capacity
intersections causing significant delays and safety issues on Highway 169 and all adjacent streets. The first two phases of this project
are complete. All but one of the controlled intersections from the Mississippi River heading north have been removed; the last
remaining controlled intersection is to be removed this summer. Highway 169's conversion to a freeway has resulted in the
northbound traffic between Elk River and Zimmerman becoming a steady stream with very few openings to turn, enter traffic, or
cross the divided highway safely. The unintended consequence of these improvements is increased volume and speeds on Highway
169 increasing the risk of hazards at the remaining uncontrolled intersections. There are 12 road intersections on Highway 169
between Elk River and Zimmerman which has the last remaining controlled intersection in the area at Highway 169 and Sherburne
County State Aid Highway 4.
Recently Sherburne County announced that they are receiving $24.7 million via the INFRA program (plus an additional $18 million in
local funding) to improve the Highway 169 & CSAH 4 intersection (Rural Safety and Mobility Interchange Project). According to
Sherburne County, a benefit of this $43 million project is the creation of a "Signal -Free Corridor" stating that the project to convert
the CSAH 4 intersection to an interchange will eliminate the last remaining traffic signal on the 75-mile stretch of Highway 169
between Rogers and Lake Mille Lacs. What is not addressed by this project is that the intersection changes will likely produce a
steady stream of high-speed traffic heading southbound, further exacerbating the safety issues on this roadway noted above.
My neighbors and I respectfully request a safety study of the roadway and intersections between Elk River and Zimmerman. We
believe our request to be timely. The next opportunity to apply for the USDOT Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant begins this
month.
Thank you for taking the time to read my letter. Please reach out to me to discuss this further.
Page 189 of 229
Sincerely,
Melanie Curtis
10988 235th Avenue NW
Elk River, MN 55330
Copies of my letter have also been sent to the following:
Sherburne County Board of Commissioners via email
Mr. Andrew Witter, Sherburne County Public Works Director via email
Ms. Nancy Daubenberger, MnDOTTransportation Commissioner, US Mail
Mr. Mike Ginnaty, MnDOT District 3 Engineer via email
Deputy Geoffrey Dowty, Sherburne County Safe Roads Coalition via email
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