07-11-11-R - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL — July, 11, 2011 13 6.A. Highway 96 /TH 10 Interstate Project — Public Hearing (continued) change with age and wear and the noise level will change as well. He explained the noise levels for this project were looked at for all the neighborhoods. These highways need to be improved to accommodate the traffic levels they are currently experiencing and for future capacity. Safety is the biggest reason for these improvements because this is a dangerous intersection. The traffic on these roads could not be diverted to other roads because there are no other roads that will accommodate this amount of traffic added to it. He also clarified that the highways were in place before the homes were, especially the Briarknoll neighborhood, and the State and County have invested in this corridor for roadways. Councilmember Holden asked why the I- 694/I -3 5 W and the Highway 10 /Highway 96 projects were separate other than funding sources. Mr. Tolaas stated a project is generally scoped pertinent to the facts being considered. What happens on I -694 and Highway 10 will happen regardless of whether a grade separation is done on Highway 10 and Highway 96 or not. I -694 was looked at and evaluated as to the facts and issues presented on that particular roadway. He clarified that the man made pond that was built by the County. This is next to the natural wetlands and environmental restrictions prevent the County from constructing a road or a pond in the wetlands. If the pond were moved it would need to be moved to a location that water would be able to get to it and out of it. The County did look at this intersection and considered if there was a way to move this road, but it was not possible. Also the intersection could not be graded to allow for moving this ramp. This ramp could be put on a structure in the future but this will depend on the factors that are driving the need for the movement. Councilmember Tamble asked questioned the estimated amount of resources required to determine the costs to relocate the pond and where the ramp would be located. Mr. Tolaas stated the required geometrics for the ramp would need to be reviewed and the appropriate acceleration lanes would need to be included. The complicated thing is to relocate the pond and meet all the environmental laws and neither the State nor the County could justify the cost. The trigger for something different to happen in this location will be development of TCAAP. Once transportation improvements have been identified and a study has been done this will determine if this area provides a critical movement. The State and the County invest in projects that will make improvements for the broader public. Councilmember Holden questioned the rating of Lexington Avenue. An unidentified person in the audience provided the answer. Mayor Grant asked what was being done to provide noise mitigation other than a sound wall. Mr. Tolaas stated nothing was being done post construction. The amount of starting and stopping will be reduced and this will address some of the noise concerns presented. Noise walls are the type of noise abatement that is used. They are constructed when the federal criteria is met,