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ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION – DECEMBER 1, 2014 2 <br /> <br />Ms. Engum stated that this was the case. She explained that staff looked at the traffic needs for <br />this intersection for the next 20 years when designing the interchange. She discussed how the <br />roundabout would manage traffic during peak hours. She reported that the design considered the <br />full build out of TCAAP. <br /> <br />Councilmember McClung asked if there were any roundabouts in Minnesota with two lanes and <br />five legs, similar to what was being proposed for this intersection. <br /> <br />Ms. Engum was uncertain if there were any in Minnesota, but she said that she would report back <br />to the Council on this matter with additional information. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant questioned how much additional traffic could be added to the intersection without <br />failure. <br /> <br />Ms. Engum did not have a specific traffic count in mind and provided further comment on how <br />the roundabout would manage the traffic at this intersection. She reported that she could provide <br />the Council with additional information at a future meeting. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant stated that he would like further confirmation from the County that the proposed <br />roundabout would be successful given the fact that roundabouts are relatively new in Minnesota. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holmes asked about access to TCAAP from Highway 10. <br /> <br />Public Works Director Maurer stated that there will be no directed access to TCAAP from <br />Highway 10. Vehicles on Highway 10 would have to access TCAAP by way of the County Road <br />H intersection. <br /> <br />Councilmember McClung expressed concern regarding the small scale of the roundabout. He <br />explained that Minnesotans are not familiar with roundabouts and he feared how traffic would <br />back up because of this. <br /> <br />Ms. Engum commented that she would provide the Council with a full-scale rendering of the <br />roundabout and believed that this would provide further assurance of how the roundabout would <br />function for traffic at this interchange. She understood that there is a learning curve with <br />roundabouts and she anticipated that public involvement through the planning process would help. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant inquired if a 53’ semi-truck would be able to navigate the proposed roundabout. <br /> <br />Public Works Director Maurer stated that this was the case. He further discussed how a larger <br />truck would maneuver through the roundabout. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden questioned if the proposed roundabout was new for the United States. <br /> <br />Ms. Engum explained that Minnesota was actually behind the rest of the United States with <br />regard to the use of roundabouts. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holmes asked if the roundabout could be made larger for the comfort of drivers.