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• <br />• <br />~~ <br />f1AY-Ud-~UU( •fUL 1U~5d All ANUKA GUUNTY HWY Ul;Y'!~ rRK NU, Ilia dbi' 4LU1 <br />May 7, ~00~ <br />Y. UC <br />i~ iV <br />Public Services Division <br />HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT <br />14413 BUNKER LAKE BLVD. N.W., ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 65304-A•oo5 <br />(763) 862-420D FAX {763) 862-4201 <br />Breanne Dalnes <br />City o•F Raansey <br />15153 Nowthen 131vd. N.W. <br />Ramsey,.NL'\I 55303 <br />Re: Sketch Plan - 14544 Nawthen Boulevard {Previously lZeviewed 71Z~/2404) <br />and Plat-Pinel~rairie <br />Dear l3reanne, -, <br />We have reviewed the Sketch Ptan for 14544 rlowthen Boulevard, located south and west of CSAH 5 ([Vowthen <br />Boulevard.) and the Plat for Pine Prairie, to be located on the v,~est fide of CSAH ] at 145"' Avenue NW within the City aF <br />Ramsey, and I offer tMe following comments: <br />The existing right of way adjacent to CSAH 5 is 60 feet west of cer-terline CSAIT 5 should be adequate far fi~tvre <br />reconstruction purposes, and no additional right of ~vay will be required at this time. 1t is passilsle that when this <br />section of CSAH 5 is reconstructed at some future date, a.dditicina! permanent easements in the •Form of trail, sidev,~a[Jc, <br />utility or temporary construction easement may be needed. <br />The SJcetch Plan for 14544 Nowthen Boulevard and the Plat of Pine Prairie da not provide an appropriate level of local <br />connectivity, thereby forcing direct access auto CS/1i1 5. As proposad these deveJa menu would add ~ <br />access points onto i:he county lti,gltway system, which is oat desirable ar accept-a.ble him a eaunty highway)sta tclcpoirttl <br />CSgH 5 is a high spend strterial roadway carrying in excess of 70130 vehicles per day..VJhila it is a 2-lane undivided <br />roadway presently, CSAFt S is a potential candidate t~ become a future 4-lane divided rottdu~ay, and future access to <br />CSAIT 5 within t>>is area will 1ilcely become right: in/right out (12!/RO) at some point in time. 't"he propased access <br />points associated with these dcvelapments onto CS,4E-~ 5 do not meet tha access span[ng guideiinas. Additionally, the <br />location and. proximity of the access locations would not allow for standard turn lane constz~uction, at~d do not rnect <br />intersection Sight Distance Requirements. The addition of'('ull access points onto CSAI-l 5 will have a negative etfbct <br />on tike safety, integrity and operational aspects ot'the roadway carridar. Safety issues and the incidecice of crashes are a <br />direct result from turning maneuvers on roa.dtvays. ~Jith increasing traffic volumes and congestion, tlu: impartance for <br />limited access to county highways cannot be overstated, the proliferation and inappropriate spacing of access points <br />reduces a roadway's capacity and sa'ft;ty. Liinitinb access is critical in minimizing highway c;ongzstion; and is the <br />single most important factor in reducin6 crashes on highways_ From a county highway perspective, the developments <br />should be reconfigured to remave the dic~ect access points onto CSAH 5 a+~d rece[ving access via. the local City street <br />system (146°i avenue NW). tTowever, it is our understtinding that access to 146'x' avenue N~ catuiat be flcftieved at <br />tlii5 time. As a result, we would be willing to issue (l) temporarry access permit to CSAiT 5 to serve both <br />deve[opmercts, provided that there is a commitment from the City and the affected property owners to work together <br />Affircpstive Actfarb / Equal f3ppartttrtity Erttpioyer <br />-327- <br />