05-11-1999 Public Hearing - Woodhill CC

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100rtAna Woodhill Avenue was substantially improved in 1988 when the Woodhill Ridge development was built. Woodhill Avenue was widened from a “ 20 foot graded and 16 foot bituminous surface ” (1987Bonestroo Rosene Report on Woodhill Avenue Street Improvement) to 25 ‘ in width and an asphalt base. Traffic Volumes Woodhill Avenue serves approximately 60 vehicles a day (based on national averages of 10 trips/household). The City of Orono performed a traffic count on December 12. 1998, indicating an ADT of 47 vehicles, confirming the general traffic volumes on the roadway. Hennepin County traffic mapping indicates Orono Orchard Road has a traffic volume of approximately 1800 vehicles a day. Intersection with Orono Orchard Road The "T " intersection is stop-sign controlled for Woodhill Avenue only. The stop sign is located on the left side of the approach to enhance its visibility to approaching vehicles. To conform to Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Device {MUTCD) guidelines. Woodhill‘s CUP amendment recommends a second stop sign on the right side of the roadway. Orono Orchard Road is signed for 30 mph and follows a generally curving alignment. Orono Orchard Road is 25' 2 " wide south of the intersection, widens to 40 ’ 3 ’’ north of the intersection, and located on a 66 foot of right-of-way. To the north of the intersection, there is a clear distance of approximately 400 feet and to the south there is a clear distance of approximately 200 feet. The 200 feet can be enhanced to 300 feet by removing five feet of overgrown vegetation in the public right- of-way. These distances are within the required stopping sight distance as contained in the Policy on Geometric Design of Highway and Street published by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials for 30 mph and roadways with a 5% downgrade. To produce conservative estimates, the calculated distances assume a wet roadway surface and a vehicle with worn tires. The stopping sight d‘5*ance allows a vehicle on Orono Orchard Road to stop prior to Woodhill Avenue. County Road IS OR 15 serves as the area ’ s primary east/west roadway and connects communities along the north shore of Lake Minnetonka and further west to TH 12.1-394 and the Twin Cities to the east. The speed limit is 50 mph at Woodhill Road. Geometries The roadway is presently under construction, and will be expanded from a two-lane roadway to a two-lane plus two-way center turning lane roadway. In the westbound direction, right-turn lanes will be added at Woodhill Road. Russel Avenue, and Orono Orchard Road Following construction, the roadway will be signed for 50 mph at Woodhill Road and transition to 35 mph at Orono Orchard Road. Traffic Volumes Average daily traffic volumes on CR 15 have increased from 13,000 vehicles in 1978 to approximately 21.000 vehicles in 1998. an increase of 60% in traffic over the last 20 years, or a growth rate of approximately 3% a year. Over a Century of Englnaarlng BxccUanca