Agenda - Public Works Committee - 02/19/2002

Home

UPDATE ON SUNFISH BUSINESS PARK By: Brian E. Olson, City Engineer P.W. CASE #,~ Background: As you may recall, Sunfish Business Park had proposed an access onto County Road 116 at Azurite Street NW and Sunwood Drive NW. (See attachment.) We proposed a fight turn lane into Azurite Street NW from County Road 116 as part of the plan that was submitted for the permit to work within the right of way. The cost of this work was $30,000 and has been included in with the TIF budget for this district. On October 4, 2001, the City received a letter from the County requesting that the Azufite Street NW connection to County Road 116 be eliminated due to the proximity of Sunwood Drive NW. Anoka County has had a difficult time in keeping up with the costs associated with development and improvements that need to be made to their existing road system. They now have a policy that requires left and right turning lanes to be installed with any new development or new street connection. The cost per intersection runs about $120,000. The City would be required, under the new County policy, to upgrade the intersection of Azurite Street NW with full turning movements at a cost of $120,000. In July of 2000 we submitted plans that were approved by the County Engineer for the connection to County Road 116 and Sunfish Lake Boulevard. This plan included fight turn lanes to be added to southbound Sunfish Lake Boulevard and north and westbound County Road 116. The cost for this work on the County system would run about $60,000 or about $30,000 per right turn lane. Since we still have to receive a permit for the construction of this street, the County requested upgrading the intersections with full turning movements. On February 13, 2002, Staff met with the County to discuss reallocation of the requested improvements. Staff felt that Sunwood Drive NW would benefit the greatest by the addition of full turning movements due to the amount of traffic expected. Instead of upgrading Azurite Street NW, with full turning movements at a cost of $120,000, we felt that the safety of the traveling public would be best served with the improvement to the intersection of Sunwood Drive and County Road 116. Azurite Street was again proposed as a right turn lane only. Since the County has scheduled Sunfish Lake Boulevard as a potential overlay project this year, Staff requested that they improve Sunfish Lake Boulevard with full turning movements and we would fund the southbound right turn lane only as outlined in the Sunwood Drive NW plan. Staff recommends that the Committee authorize the preparation of a change order to the Sunwood Drive project, once awarded, for the construction of full turning lanes at the intersection of Sunwood Drive NW and County Road 116 (~$120,000) and pay Anoka County its share (-$30,000) of the cost for constructing a southbound right turn lane on Sunfish Lake Boulevard and Sunwood Drive. Committee Action: Based upon discussion Reviewed by: City Administrator Director of Public Works PW: 2/19/02