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P.W. CASE # <br /> <br />DISCUSSION OF CONSIDER EXTENSION OF SOUND WALL <br />ALONG TRUNK HIGHWAY #47 <br /> By: Steven J. Jankowski, City Engineer <br /> <br />Background: <br /> <br />At the June 18, 2001 Public Works Committee meeting, a petition was received from <br />seven residents of the Amber Ridge subdivision north of Sunwood Drive (I49th Avenue) <br />requesting that the road screening wall be extended north of Sunwood to become <br />continuous with the wall in the Willow Ridge subdivision to the north. <br /> <br />You may recall that the screening wall was not installed in this location because there <br />was no change in the grade of the highway, unlike the section to the south of Sunwood. <br />The cost of the screening wall in areas where there was a sig-nificant ~ade change was <br />funded 80% with federal grant money as an eligible portion of the highway project. <br /> <br />Staff was directed to inquire whether 80% funding might be available on this portion of <br />the project. Attached are copies of my June 27, 2001 letter requesting consideration of <br />funding for the additional wall extension, and the August 3, 2001 response from MnDOT <br />declining this request. <br /> <br />Observation: <br /> <br />The alternative of extending this screening wall mbuld be financially prohibitive at a cost <br />of over $300,000. This cost could double if residents on the West Side of T.H. #47 also <br />requested a like screening wall. There would also be some technical problems associated <br />with placing a screening wall through the requested area. These problems would be <br />associated with the falling grade from the roadway and drainage flowing from the <br />roadway into the wall. <br /> <br />The petitioners did correctly point out that approximately half of the pre-existing trees, <br />mostly eastern red cedar, were removed as a consequence of the project..Eight trees have <br />been replanted in this area. <br /> <br />Recommendations: <br /> <br />Staff recommends that additional trees be planted in this area to enhance the screening for <br />the affected residences. <br /> <br />Committee Action: <br /> <br />Recommend to City Council that additional trees 'be planted along the subject area. <br /> <br />Reviewed by: <br /> <br />City Administrator <br />Director of Public Works <br />Chief Police <br /> <br />PW: 08/21/01 <br /> <br /> <br />