Minutes - Public Works Committee - 01/16/2001

Home

Case#3: Update on T.H. #47/Community Roadside Partnership Program for Landscape Plantings City Engineer Jankowski stated that the purpose of this case was intended to provide a brief update on the status of the Trunk Highway #47 project. The issues still outstanding include: 1. Sound wall construction. The construction of the sound wall was to be initiated during the first week of January, however, the severe December weather has caused the construction to be rescheduled. A supplemental agreement for this work is still being prepared at MnDOT. The price for the wall construction by the contractor must be reviewed by MnDOT to assure reasonableness. However, it is currently estimated that the cost of the wall will be $211,000 with the City's participation being $69,400. The City's share will be provided from either MSA or TIF funding. 2. The signalization or the restrictions of turns at 142na Avenue N.W. The current direction from the City Council regarding the intersection of 142nd Avenue N.W. and Trunk Highway #47 is that the first preference is that it be signalized. However, in the event that the intersection doesn't meet warrants for signalization, it is City Council's desire that concrete medians being installed that would allow left tums from Trunk Highway #47, but would prohibit left turns from 142"d Avenue N.W. onto Trunk Highway #47. Now that the other signals have been installed and are functioning for about six weeks it would be appropriate to conduct an intersection study and prepare a new signal justification report for 142nd Avenue N.W. Unless directed otherwise, staff will arrange for the necessary work to be performed. 3. The completion of the landscaping. The original plans provided for the planting of 188 trees 'along Trunk Highway #47 and Sunwood Drive. Because of project changes which included adding a sound wall on Trunk Highway #47 and a sidewalk on the north, side of Sunwood Drive the landscape plan had to be revised. Installation will be preformed in the spring. The plan now calls for planting 103 trees along Trunk Highway #47 which will be placed between the sound wall and the trail. The revised plan also calls for the planting of 144 tress along Sunwood Drive and the detention pond on the northwest coruer of Sunwood Drive and Trunk Highway #47. The present plan anticipates placing sod in the wide areas of the median (4.8 meter or 15.7 feet). Staff has been meeting with Ms. Patti Stromeyer of MnDOT who has provided information on the Community Roadside Landscaping Partnership Program. Although it would take some minor modifications of the grading and drainage system, it would be possible to consider some more decorative median plantings and shrubbery along the highway side of the screening fence. Under this program, MnDOT would pay for plant materials placed within their fight-of-way and the City would be responsible for the plantings and maintenance. Councihnember Zimmerman suggested that conducting the intersection study of 142nd Avenue and T.H. #47 in the spring or summer when traffic is at its highest. City Engineer Jankowski replied that the T.H. #47 project will probably be completed by July so if they delay doing the signal justification study then the project would probably have to be extended. Public Works Committee/January 16, 2001 Page 4 of 6