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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — NOVEMBER 18, 2019 2 the intersection of Hamline Avenue to Snelling Avenue from 2016 to the present with the Council. He reported MnDOT has safety concerns with this intersection. Councilmember Holden asked how MnDOT generated the traffic volume numbers. Mr. Lindeberg stated MnDOT uses sophisticated traffic modeling software to generate this information. He commented further on how MnDOT was tracking data to better understand traffic flow. Mayor Grant questioned if MnDOT was expecting traffic to migrate back to 35W after the MNPASS project was complete. Mr. Lindeberg indicated he expects some traffic to return to 35W. However, this amount or level of traffic shift was uncertain. He explained commuters may get used to taking a new route and may not shift back to 35W. Further discussion ensued regarding the flow of traffic in and around Hamline Avenue and Snelling Avenue. Councilmember Holden questioned when the closure would go from temporary to reopened. Mr. Lindeberg explained this was a four-year project and MnDOT intended to open the left hand turn each winter. However, the contractor changed the staging and a determination was made to keep the closure in place for the duration of the project. He stated he had a copy of a letter approved by the previous City Engineer supporting this information. Mayor Grant requested Mr. Lindeberg provide the Council with a copy of this letter. Mr. Lindeberg stated MnDOT was now studying current traffic patterns in order to best suit the residents using this area of the City. Councilmember Holden asked if MnDOT would make a determination on this intersection prior to three years. Mr. Lindeberg anticipated this would be the case. He commented MnDOT may have a decision as early as this winter once further information was gathered on traffic patterns. Councilmember Holden questioned what the City of Roseville was planning to do at the intersection of Snelling Avenue and Lydia Street. Mr. Lindeberg stated he was uncertain. He indicated he had heard Roseville was interested in installing a double left eastbound. Councilmember Holden expressed concern with the proposed closure and how it would impact Arden Hills residents. She was also concerned that MnDOT was more concerned with meeting the needs of Roseville at Lydia Street than understanding the needs of Arden Hills residents.