2005-01-12 CC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

RECEIVE;D L::[; 2 ;: "'"C', f ...-_ 'J Jim Tricker 158 Sunwood Valley Lane River Falls, WI 54022 I'm writing this letter in regards to the proposed traffic changes Anoka County wants to make to Co. Rd 14 on the east side of Centerville. I am employed as the Sales Manager at Northern Forest Products (NFP) and commute from my home to work each day. I am very concerned that the addition of a center median with no center turn lanes into businesses will cause more problems to the local residents, businesses and traffic flow than other potential, more logical designs. You are probably aware that NFP distributes and receives our lumber and sheet goods via tractor trailer flat beds, curtain side trailers and containers. I would estimate that 95% of our truck traffic exits 135E and comes westbound to our location. The proposed median with no left turn lane would result in our deliveries being routed on other county roads. This would cause excessive road wear, noise in residential areas and slowed traffic within an estimated 5 mile radius of NFP's facility. (Our deliveries from the north would have to exit 135E at Hwy 97 and from the south at Co Rd J or Hwy 96.) I'm sure the residents along these highways are looking for less truck traffic, potholes and noise, not more. Is the county' going to increase the seasonal weight restrictions on surrounding county highways? The median proposal just will not achieve the county's objective. All of NFP's deliveries will now have to arrive and leave eastbound. These large trucks will have to slow to a crawl before making a tight right hand turn into and out of our location. I would like to mention that before the county added the 4 way stop signs at Co Rd 14 & I 35E, I refused to exit there on my way to work. I felt it was too dangerous due to the eastbound speeding traffic. Co Rd J is almost as dangerous because I can't see eastbound traffic until I creep out into the intersection. (At least they have to slow down a little bit before coming to the "T" at Otter Lake Blvd just to the east.) I live in River Falls, WI. In the past 2 years, the city, 2 counties and the state tackled the same issue on our "North Main Street", which is also State Hwy 35. The solution: 1. The addition of traffic signal lights at the busiest intersections, which are sensor activated. 2. Inserting a "center turn lane" to get turning traffic out of the main flow. This is working well in our city and it will work in Centerville without creating headaches for local residents and businesses. Respectfully yours, ~~ ~ Tricker