2014-07-22_PWETC_AgendaPacket - Laserfiche WebLink

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M161 446 Additional discussion included changes in alignment of two of the four ramps; 447 lack of analysis by MnDOT pursuing roundabouts in this area to avoid back-ups 448 during peak school times, but limited by significant grade issues and challenges to 449 the cost of the project. Form a staging perspective, Mr. Culver advised that 450 diverting Highway 36 traffic off the ramp and then back onto Highway 36 around 451 bridge replacement segments would cause Lexington Avenue to be closed to 452 through traffic for a time. Mr. Culver advised that MnDOT had originally 453 intended to divert eastbound traffic, build the bridge and move traffic onto it; 454 however, that would have required two construction seasons, and the City had 455 suggested that MnDOT look at widening the ramp temporarily to allow one lane 456 in each direction in order to build both bridges at the same time and provide 457 significant economies of scale (e.g. easier traffic control and contractor 458 mobilization costs). Mr. Culver advised that -this would save a whole construction 459 season of difficulty for Roseville residents and users of Lexington Avenue with 460 one versus two construction seasons, with Lexington open to local traffic only. 461 462 Mr. Schwartz advised that the proposed closure would be four months. At the 463 request of Member Woz' , Mr. Schwartz confirmed that staging remained 464 preliminary at this point, d MnDOT was committed to looking at it again. 465 466 Mr. Culver advised that, if traffic was completely diverted, contractors could 467 accomplish the work quickly to the benefit of all. As an example, form his 468 experience with bridge construction on Highway 610 in Akaple Grove, one 469 freeway overpass in forty-five days, proving that it can be done, as well as saving 470 money and time and impacts. At the request of Member Gj erdingen, Mr. Culver 471 advised that consideration was given to impacts to State Fair traffic impacts as 472 well as school schedules, with determination that the larger impact would be for 473 State Fair traffic, and therefore, the project may need to be initiated before school 474 gets out. 475 476 Member SNeigler ine476 Member Seigler fined tha Highway 36 was currently backed up daily, and with 477 reduced lanes during construction and/or diversion of the traffic, it would bury 478 Larpenteur Avenue, Highway 96 and other alternates as people found those 479 options. 480 481 Mr. Culver agreed that there would be serious restrictions during rush hour, but 482 the goal was to focus the pain into a few months versus two years, and get the 483 project done. 484 485 Chair Stenlund concurred, opining that people tended to adjust after the first 486 week. 487 488 Specific to drainage issues and designs by MnDOT, Mr. Culver advised that City 489 staff was working with their proposal to address what was needed locally from a 490 drainage perspective, and allow the City to incorporate its historical drainage Page 11 of 18