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<br />Mr. Jay Kennedy <br />August 28, 1996 <br />Page 2 <br /> <br />vehicle every two signal cycles for the eastbound to northbound left turn movement. Most of the rest <br />of the movements will be substantially less, such as a vehicle every third or fourth signal cycle. <br /> <br />The direct access onto Rice Street will have a smaller volume, but have a larger impact. We <br />anticipate that approximately 22 vehicles will attempt to make the northbound left turn during the <br />noon hour period. In addition, we anticipate there will be 25 outbound right turns, three outbound <br />left turns and 13 southbound right turns. This will provide some additional congestion at the <br />intersection, especially when added to the small volume coming from the existing restaurant and the <br />heavier volume coming from Viking Drive on the east side of Rice Street. The northbound left turns <br />can be made from a painted island area, but will add to the delay for existing Viking Drive traffic <br />and traffic from the existing restaurant west of Rice Street. A second concern is that the southbound <br />right turns will be making a right turn from the middle of the right turn lane now serving the <br />Highway 36 ramp. Traffic to the restaurant and Calibre Ridge already create some concerns. The <br />outbound traffic will also have some small problems. While there are southbound gaps created by <br />the traffic signal at Minnesota Street, the Viking Drive traffic is somewhat aggressive and there may <br />be some conflicts between the eastbound right turns and westbound left turns from Viking Drive. <br /> <br />There will also be some traffic volume added to the access from Calibre Ridge to Minnesota Street. <br />We anticipate that the combined Blimpies and office building will generate approximately three trips <br />in each direction on Minnesota Street west of the access in the noon hour period. In addition, there <br />will be 32 northbound right turns and 24 westbound left turns at the Minnesota Street access <br />intersection. <br /> <br />While none of these volumes will create major problems, they will add to an already congested and <br />confusing area. To resolve some of the problems in the future, Mn/DOT may be forced to install a <br />median along Rice Street from Highway 36 to Minnesota Street or restrict access more than it is <br />already. This would then redirect most of the traffic from the restaurant and office to the Minnesota <br />Street intersection. <br /> <br />We have also reviewed the on-site circulation and parking. The east parking lot has proper <br />dimensions for the parking stalls. However, there is insufficient aisle width for vehicles backing out <br />of the south spaces. If two of the center aisle parking spaces are removed, then the dimensions are <br />adequate. There is a single handicap stall in the south lot. <br /> <br />The Calibre Ridge access roadway appears to be widened based on the drawings. This is desirable <br />because of the existing narrow width. However, there will still only be a single eastbound lane at <br />the Rice Street intersection. Any motorist attempting a left turn onto Rice Street will tie up <br />remaining traffic for a significant amount of time. This indicates that traffic probably will use the <br />