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One of the residents present thought that Apple Ridge would only have access to T.H. <br />#47. <br /> <br />Mr. Jankowski stated that in order to do that, a closure would have to be installed. <br /> <br />Anita Hillebrecht Lamme, 5840 - 160th Lane NW, noted there is potential for a lot of <br />traffic on her road. <br /> <br />Peggy Purvis, 6025 - 157th Lane NW, commented that the Council should have heard by <br />now how opposed the existing neighborhoods are to the added traffic. <br /> <br />Mr. Jankowski stated he has done some research on a lead link fence. Any type of <br />closure that will allow emergency vehicles to pass through without damage, will also <br />allow non-emergency vehicles to pass through undamaged. It could be anticipated that <br />such a closure will require frequent maintenance. In talking with the City of Coon <br />Rapids, their engineering department indicated that a "sawed" chain link type of street <br />closure, attempted several years ago, did result in minor damage to emergency vehicles. <br />In one instance, the chain was mistakenly replaced without the sawed link, and major <br />damage resulted to a fire department vehicle. That temporary closure was removed after <br />that incident. The City of Coon Rapids also has an emergency street closure which has <br />been in place for approximately two years with only one incidence of a drive-through. <br />This is a gate-type of closure which is required to be physically opened by getting out of <br />the emergency vehicle. An automatic type of gate facility was over $4,000 and was <br />deemed to be too expensive to install and maintain. The non-automatic gate, used by the <br />City of Coon Rapids, costs less than $1,000 and the most vulnerable piece is a two by six <br />piece of lumber with $100 of reflective warning tape. Mr. Jankowski stated that although <br />it certainly is possible to install a type of closure that will permit emergency vehicles to <br />pass, there are disadvantages associated with such a facility. He summarized his findings <br />as follows: (1) It will greatly increase intra-neighborhood travel time and distance <br />between the adjacent subdivision. (2) It will require a high degree maintenance, forcing <br />snowplow operators and emergency vehicle operators to leave their vehicle to open and <br />close. (3) It should be anticipated that non-authorized drive-through traffic will cause <br />some degree of barrier replacement. (4) It may cost precious seconds in extreme <br />emergency situations. In addition, the platting of 157th and 158th Lanes in the Hall's <br />Dover subdivision was intended to continue eastward, and additional traffic could have <br />reasonably been anticipated by this neighborhood. He recommended that this type of <br />closure not be installed in this location because of the negative effects he listed. <br /> <br />Councilmember Haas Steffen noted the traffic analysis was done prior to the City <br />receiving notification that the improvements to T.H. #47 would go forward. She <br />suggested that may make a difference in the analysis and that staff should research that. <br />She understood that the Apple Ridge development would be done in phases with the first <br />phases being closest to T.H. #47. If they deviate from that, she asked would the <br />developer have to appear before the City Council to request approval for that? <br /> <br />Road and Bridge Committee/May 6, 1998 <br /> Page 2 of 5 <br /> <br /> <br />