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1 <br />AIINIITES OF THE REGULAR ORONO CITT COUNCIL <br />MEETING HELD ON OCTOBER 14, 1996 <br />(Corridor Selection for Huy 12 Upgrade - Continued) <br />O’Keefe noted there were three proposals last spring, one uith a 2-lane bypass south of <br />Long Lake and reconnection uith the current Huy 12 by Stubbs Bay Road The second <br />proposal was the three component TSM proposal, which would have new interchanges at <br />Watertown and Femdale The third proposal was presented by neighborhood groups for <br />a three lane section on the existing alignment with a reversible east-west lane to be used <br />during rush hours and as a 2-way left turn during off-peak times These proposals were <br />evaluated during the summer months along with changes made to Ma DOT’S own <br />proposal The interchange at Ferndale was eliminated as the benefit did not justify the <br />cost The Watertown Road connection was also eliminated as the traffic has not <br />increased on that road as projected to show sufficent evidence to justify the cost. <br />O’Keefe said it was most noteworthy that the cost of tunneling under the Luce Line and <br />Burlington Northern Railroad would be very expensive and an engineering challenge. <br />The alternative of looking at moving the railroad tracks to the south with the road <br />located north of the tracks was reviewed O’Keefe noted that Mn/DOT does not have <br />eminent domain rights over railroad property and w ould require agreement from the <br />Railroad. The Alternative 6 proposal provides the advantage of eliminating the Brown <br />Road, CoRd 6, and Stubbs Bay Rd at-grade crossings, as well as two bridge trestles at <br />Watertown Road and May Street O’Keefe said the railroad is in agreement to this point <br />Mn/DOT is working with the railroad to move its current location 50 to 120' south of the <br />current location, with the new Highway 12 located north of the relocated railroad tracks. <br />The advantages of this would be less expense than that of tunneling under the railroad, <br />and it allows bridging over the railroad at Brown Road The grade of the railroad could <br />be lowered and would not impact the area south on Brown Road There would be a <br />Lake Street connection with the new Broun Road slightly east of Virginia Avenue. By <br />lowering the grade, there would be less visual and noise impact especially to the west <br />where the railroad is depressed <br />O’Keefe said Mn/DOT ofticials d scussed this alternative with the Orono and Long Lake <br />Councils informally The proposal was presented on September 17 with Mn/DOT <br />looking for the support of the Councils for the proposal as the identified preferred <br />corridor The cities indicated general support A public meeting was held at St. George’s <br />on September 30 to review the Alternative 6 proposal <br />O'Keefe reviewed the features of the proposal and the decision and what is and is not part <br />of the decision process made so far The corridor selection sets the general alignment <br />only. The design details will be determined in the preliminary design phase. The design <br />phase will involve working with the cities with regard to details with decisions hopefully <br />made by October. 1997 The corridor is in a conceptual stage, especially where <br />interc ^nges, ramps and loops are concerned.