Minutes - Public Works Committee - 09/21/2004

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, intersection is actually a right a~gle bend in the roadway where 169111 Avenue transforms into Neon Street. The resident lives on the outside corner of this bend and has experienced numerous instances of vehicles sliding off the street and into his yard. The radius of the street bend is approximately 95. feet and does appear to have a slight superelevation. Safe travel speed for a curve having this radius would be 20 miles per hour. There are currently no warning signs advising motorists of this bend. City Engineer Jankowski explained the safe travel speed could be increased by increasing the radius of the curve, however, the proximity of this intersection to the intersection of 1691h A venue and TH 47 limits the ability to increase this radius to a design speed of 25 miles per hour or less. Increasing the radius to accommodate this design speed would require the acquisition of approximately 0.15 acres of additional right of way from the property on the northwest corner of the intersection and the reconstruction of about 340 feet of roadway. A second alternative to increasing the safe speed at this bend would be to increase the superelevation. of the existing roadway to the maximum pennitted limit of 6 percent. Currently the superelevation appears to be . about 2 percent. This alternative would require the reconstruction of about 150 feet of roadway at an estimated cost ranging between $15,000 and $20,000. Additionally it should be noted that reconstruction of this section of roadway would need to be carefully implemented since it is the sole access source for the entire neighborhood to the east. A temporary roadway may need to be considered as a part of the reconstruction plan. City Engineer Jankowski explained although there may be a number of vehicles leaving the roadway at this location, a review of the accident history shows no incidents reported to the police department in the past five years. This is not unusual for accidents that involve inconvenience more than injury or property damage. The lack of accident reports limit the ability to analyze the reason for the accident, however, it might be that motorist are caught by surprise by the bend. This could be particularly true if the accidents are occurring after dark since there is not a street light in the vicinity of the intersection. He advised since the accidents occurring at this intersection are unreported and presuinab1y minor in nature, staff recommends that warning signs are installed on the approach to this intersection to advise and remind motorists of the bend in the road. A series of chevrons on the southbound approach seems the best suited to accomplishing this, or additionally, a curve warning sign with an advisory 20 mile per hour might also be placed. Jim Greenland, 5866 l691h Avenue NW, stated this is not just an inconvenience for him with people coming into his yard. This is a dangerous road with many near head on collisions. People drive too fast and cut the comer too sharply. He watched a woman drive off the road the other day. The majority of people that drive on the road live back there and are aware of the curve, and the sign would not help. His suggestion would be that l69th Avenue should run straight out to Highway 47 and have no curve at all. He stated it is not true that there have not been any incidents reported to the police in the last five years, as he has been to the Police Department and talked to an officer. .' Public Works Director Kapler explained there must be an accident with over $1,000 in damage for a report to be filed. Public Works Committee/September 21, 2004 Page 2 of 10