02-10-1997 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION ^0 DATE: FebnS(^^997 /') ITEM NO: ^ Department Approval: Name Ron Moorse Title City Administrator Administrator Reviewed:Agenda Section: City Administrator’s Report Item Description: County Road 15 Roadway Project - Orono Lane Intersection The Council at its December 9, 1996 meeting approved final plans for the County Road 15 project. In January of 1997 the residents of Orono Lane expressed concerns regarding the safety of the intersection of Orono Lane and County Road 15 in relation to the lack of site distance around the curve to the west of the intersection. The residents have suggested the relocation of the Orono Lane intersection a substantial distance to the east to resolve the site distance problem. Staff has met with Hennepin County Highway Department staff to review the Orono Lane intersection issue. The current plans substantially improve the site distance at the intersection. The plans must meet minimum site distance standards in order for the project to be eligible for State Aid tunding. The current plans address the concerns expressed by the Orono Lane residents in the following manner. • The intersection will be reconfigured and reconstructed to place it at a right angle to County Road 15 which will improve the site distance around the curve. • The roadside portion of the hill on the curve will be regraded, resulting in the removal of the underbrush and some trees, to ereate an open site line a substantial distance around the curve. • Also, the County has agreed to expand the southern shoulder of County Road 15 into an acceleration lane east of Orono Lane. These improvements will more than double the site distance at the intersection, and will assist vehicles from Orono Lane in merging into the County Road 15 traffic flow. Although the plans call for g-ading the roadside portion of the hill at the curve; it is important to note that the majority of the hill, including the highest portion of the hill, will remain intact along with the majority of the trees. The hill and trees will continue to serve as a visual and noise buffer between the Orono Lane properties and County Road 15. Because the acceleration lane east of Orono Lane was not a part of the final plans approved by the