Agenda - Council Work Session - 07/14/2009

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n 147 'rrampol'l.alion Anuly,;:,; Pl.\hl:G M(,t:ting (;Ol1'll1l,~mS PU:206 of ,12 P~lt flashing triangle sign up atintersection ahead (reading blind hill) at TH 47/CR 27. Intersection at 142ndAvenue sti/[ needs improvement. Our neighbor, Nicholas Sodergren was killed in a traffic accidentat that intersection in 2004. He was 5 years old and on his way to play soccer at River's Bend Park. Some improvements have been made to that intersection. Even though it is posted for no left turns onto TH 47, 1 would estimate that one is five vehicles still makes a left turn. Since Jacob's Tavern opened, I have noticed the median signs have been knocked down several times. 1 would guess that impaired drivers Clre even more confused by the signs and accidentally run them over as they tlY to head southbound on TH 47. It's corifusing even when you aren't impaired and you are familiar with the area as well as the history of the intersection. The slip ramp (not sure if that is the correct term) at Nowthen BoulevardlCSAH 5 benefits the drivers on Nowthen Boulevard, but is a nightmare to southbound drivers on TH 47. Drivers comingfrom Nowthen Boulevard do not yield to drivers on TH 47, so even though the drivers have a green light on TH 47, the are unable to go because of the driversfrom No"vthen Boulevard are taking all of the road. Traffic on TH 47 backs up from this intersection because there is always a driver (or severa/.) that stop on TH 47 to let ALL of the vehiclesfrom NO'l-vthen Boulevard. There are many days when 1 take Nowthen Boulevard (even though it isfurther) instead ofTH 47 so 1 can cut into trqUic and avoid the trafflc backup on TH 47. At minimum, a yield sign is needed to let Nowthen Boulevarddrivers know that TH 47 drivers have the right-of way, especially when the traffic light is green for TH 47 drivers. 1 live just south of 153rd Avenue on TH 47. We are on the only stretch offrontage road along the highway. My concern is that in the morning, 1 usually can just make it through the intersection with Sunwood Drive and then the backup begins. 1 believe the prime reason for this backup is that TH 47 traffic cannot proceed through the CSAH 5 intersection on a green light because all of the CSAH 5 traffic is just pushing their way through and using up all available roadway between CSAH 5 and CSAH 1 j 6 (Bunker Lake Rd). 1 don't understand why a county road does not have to stop when entering a state highway. If Hwy 47 had two southbound lanes, it wouldn't be as big a problem, but as it is southbound 47 traffic is waiting through as many as 3-4 light changes before you actually get through the intersection. One morning, it took me 8.minutes to drive from Sunwood to CSAH 5 Idon't mind waiting my turn, but it is ridiculous that we have a green light and cannot proceed while traffic coming off ofCSAH 5just cruises on in. Because CSAH5 doesn't have any stop lights along the way, the trafflc is usually coming at us at 40 mph. .1 know that this jam up is only at peak times,but even on weekends, I have been cut off by traffic that has no stop light. People are merging like it's a .. freeway....only,l don't have another lane to move to. I have resorted to going through neighborhoods to get towork on some mornings. It's not fair for the residential areas to put upwith the increased traffic. I allow 30 minutes to drive 4 miles. 1 have called the state hwy dept. many tfmes....they have said they would monitor the situation. Someone with authority should position themselves discretely at the Co. Rd. 5/Hwy 47 intersection in the morning between 7: 15 and 8: 30 and watch the pattern. Stop sign needed at intersection south of Alpine Drive and CSAH 5. Put lights along TH 47 and more signs. h.: ',\11666 ..(i;i ".-,\;.twin ,\"k~:! i n1;:'}'i.!l>!~'\1{~d i DF ,n~~i.i~ ::r,.c Olllrn,:')I1~,. i.l.;r P30