CC 03-29-1993 - Laserfiche WebLink

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. . . Arden Hills Council 4 March 29, 1993 Mayor Sather explained that the procedure to be used for receiving public would be that all persons who signed the guest register would be invited to speak; he asked that each speaker limit comments to two minutes per person, Names were called in the order listed on the guest register. Comments made by citizens are as follows (not verbatim): Ray McGraw, 1421 Bussard Court: These hearings have been going on over a year, and the state has an obligation to provide access to property. closure of the Snelling/51 intersection has created difficulty accessing property and has added time to emergency response. Jean Lemberg, 1401 Skiles Lane: It is surprising that the State thinks signalized intersections are less safe than unsignalized intersections, yet they install so may signals. When T.R. 51 originally came through, the Old Snelling access was not closed because it was the only direct access. Access now that the Snelling/51 intersection is closed is very difficult. Convenience is not the only element; safety is also very important. The Lydia/Snelling intersection has worse sightlines than a redesigned intersection at Snelling/51 would have. Petitions from citizens have demonstrated the community's desire to reopen a safer intersection at Snelling/51. Though the old intersection at Snelling/51 was unsafe, the gory details of past accidents have colored this issue. Accidents at the old intersection were not necessarily attributed to the design of the intersection, but probably to a large extent due to the high speed limit of T.H. 51 and other factors. Roads cannot be closed simply because accidents occur. We desire safety as well as access. The County Road E bridge over T.H. 51 is inadequate to accommodate the traffic that is now using it. If we make no change now, this matter will surface again when changes to the Snelling/694 interchange are considered, Ken Schacht, 1683 West County Road F: I can't see a good solution, but closing the Snelling/51 intersection is not the answer. Residents along County Road E now have the burden of the "moved" traffic. My daughter experienced a near accident at the Snelling/51 intersection, but I think opening the intersection with a signal seems appropriate. with regard to MNDOT's concern that a signalized intersection would impede "through" traffic, it must be considered that there are several signals between Snelling/51 and Rosedale; also, a signal would help to slow the high rate of speed along 51.