Laserfiche WebLink
EXHIBIT D-14 Additional language to Planned Transportation Improvements on <br />Page 4A-34 describing why Orono is opposed to widening Co. Rd. 15 <br />B. County Road 15 (Shoreline Drive) <br />Hennepin County ’s recent reconstruction of County Road 15 from Orono Orchard Road <br />eastward to Wayzata has improved the safety and reliability of that segment of this congested <br />commuter route, by adding a center left turn lane as well as acceleration and turn lanes at <br />appropriate locations. Future improvements to County Road 15 between Orono Orchard <br />Road and 'he Navarre area will be limited by adjacency to the lakeshore and the inability to <br />increase the right-of-way width. There are no current plans at this time to widen County <br />Road 15 to four lanes, although traffic volumes far exceed the levels necessary to warrant <br />such a configuration. <br />Orono remains opposed to further widening of County Road 15 within Orono due to <br />potential negative environmental impacts on the adjacent lake area: due to the limited area <br />available for expanding the roadbed because of adjacent lakes and wetlands: because this <br />road must continue to serve its dual function as a local access road as well as a minor arterial: <br />and because it’s ability to serve os a low-speed Scenic Parkway would be reduced bv anv <br />expansion. Orono ’s position for the past 20 years has been to discourage widening of County <br />Road 15 to four Irbies at any location. Instead, Orono will continue to encourage increased <br />use of the Ring Route to take traffic volume off of County Road 15, thereby effectively <br />increasing its local service capacity. Orono fiuther encourages the development of a new or <br />improved connection south to Highway 7 for areas west of Orono as another alternative <br />commuter link to the metropolitan area.