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The Official City Newsletter for Arden Hills Residents April 2015 County Road E improvements on the way by Susan CatheyWith warmer weather comes the inevitability of roadwork, and important improvements are planned for County Road E in 2015. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), Ramsey County, and the City of Arden Hills will all contribute to this work. Bridge over Snelling Avenue to be replaced In mid-April the bridge on County Road E over Snelling Avenue (Highway 51) will be replaced by MnDOT. Current plans are for work to begin on April 13 with the bridge being removed the weekend of April 17, weather permitting. According to current plan, both County Road E and Snelling Avenue (Highway 51) will be closed from 10 p.m. on Friday, April 17, to Sunday night or early Monday morn- ing. It is possible that County Road E will close prior to the bridge removal. Advance notice will be posted. The new bridge will include a ten-foot pedestrian facility on the south side and a six-foot shoulder on the north side, mak- ing it much safer for walkers and bicy- clists. During the reconstruction process, ramps may be closed for up to 30 days each. Roadway improvements outlined The City’s County Road E Improvement project is planned to coordinate with the bridge work, probably starting in May and taking about three months to com- plete. The road from Connelly Street to Lexington Avenue will be milled and overlaid. Center islands will be redone, along with curbs, sidewalks, and drive- ways. The County Road will be widened at Lexington with new signals to alleviate congestion in the turn lane. Access to all businesses will be maintained during this period. While the City holds the construction contracts, the majority of the cost will be assumed by Ramsey County. Four compa- nies submitted bids for the job, which was awarded to Park Construction Company for $1,453,000. Elfering and Associates has been hired as the construction consul- tant, which includes construction manage- ment, staking, and a full-time inspector on site. Total cost for all aspects of the project (excluding the bridge, which MnDOT will fund) is approximately $2,067,000, with $1,409,000 being paid by the County and $658,000 by the City. The bridge on Lake Valentine Road (Old County Road F) over I-35W will also be replaced by MnDOT this summer. According to City Public Works Director Terry Maurer, the exist- ing bridge is structurally obsolete and too low for today’s traffic needs. This bridge, like that on County Road E, will have a pedestrian facility on the south side and a six-foot shoulder on the north side. Lake Valentine Road bridge to be replaced, too If you’d like updates... Current plans are for work to be- gin on the County Road E bridge project on April 13 with the bridge being removed the weekend of April 17, weather permitting. According to current plan, both County Road E and Snelling Avenue (Highway 51) will be closed from 10 p.m. on Friday, April 17, to Sun- day night or early Monday morning. It is possible that County Road E will close prior to the bridge removal. Advance notice will be posted. Work on County Road E bridge scheduled to begin in Mid-April Notes about bridge removal If you’d like updates about construction as these projects progress, check these resources: • www.cityofardenhills.org • www.dot.state.mn.us New lighting included An additional improvement will be new lighting along this stretch of road. The City Council has approved a contract with Xcel Energy for 28 Vernon Series street lights, in what is described as “nostal- gic style,” an increase from the current 20 lights. Also, approxi- mately 50 trees will be planted along the boulevard.