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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - NOVEMBER 9, 1998 13 . E. Resolution #98-63, Receiving Preliminary Report in the Matter of the 1999 Street Improvement Project, West Round Lake Road Mr. Post explained Staff had intended to discuss the City Engineer's Feasibility Report on this subject at the regular Council meeting of October 13, 1998. However, this item was deleted from the meeting agenda at Staffs request in order to further analyze project issues/alternatives. At the October 19, 1998 Council Worksession, Staff was directed to further refine the project cost estimates on both a divided highway and no median/third lane option. Mr. Post referred to the Staff memo dated November 5, 1998 and stated the City's Engineer had prepared a full range of alternatives, items A through C2, each with varying degrees of build -out of a reconstructed road. Two alternatives emphasize the parkway nature of the road with a divided road with a median. Mr. Post pointed out that right-of-way acquisition ranges from 50,000 square-feet with Alternative A, to 75,000 square-feet with Alternatives C1 or C2, which adds up to as much as 40 feet of additional roadway. Cost for the project alternatives ranged from $1.2 million dollars to $2.8 million dollars. When the road was originally looked at by the previous engineer, the cost estimates were approximately $1.5 million dollars and the significant cost increase over this estimate was one reason to reconsider the project's alternalives. One consideration which came out offurther review with the City Engineer is that the Gateway traffic study report suggests that a four lane road is not a requirement for future Gateway developments. Accordingly, it would appear that Alternative Cl could be dropped from . consideration if functionality were the only criterion. With Alternative C2 also based on an alternative four lane design, it could be dropped from consideration as well. Another issue brought up during the review is that the Feasibility Report identified several potential roadway enhancements for Phase II of the project including a bituminous trail. Staff urges Council to consider the addition of a six foot concrele sidewalk as a baseline of the Phase II proj ect to link up with Phase I as several affected property owners have a high level of pedestrian/employee traffic. Winter snow plowing of this sidewalk would be a policy issue and/or maintenance cost item. The City Administralor and City Engineer met with West Round Lake Road property owners on October 29, 1998 to infonnally discuss proposed construction plans and gather input from the property owners. The strongest opinions from these property owners were incorporating a sidewalk into the design, a preference for a two lane, undivided road with a center turn lane rather than a divided road with a raised median and turn lanes, and incorporating street lighting into the design. The City Engineer has directed American Testing to conduct expanded soil boring tests along the proposed reconstruction path. Thus far, results from the tests are not available. At a November 2, 1998 Staff meeting, the City Engineer was directed to prepare two alternatives for Council consideration. One of the alternatives is an updated Alternative B with a two lane . divided road with a raised median, as revised by refined cost and funding estimates. The second would be a new Alternative D with a two lane undivided road with a center turn lane and a forty- four foot roadbed. -