10-14-1996 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON OCTOBER 14, 1996 (Corridor Selection for Hwy 12 Upgrade - Continued) • Gayle Harris, Orono, asked how close the 2 -lane alternative would be to the railroad bed and how the road would be crossed from south to north. O'Keefe said the distance between the center lane of the proposed Hwy 12 and the center lane of the railroad is 90'. He added that the Stubbs Bay Road access is proposed to be closed. A bridge would be built over the railroad and highway on Old Crystal Bay Road. A bridge would be built on Willow Drive and on Brown Road connecting south and north Willow and Brown Roads. The Watertown and May Street accesses would be closed. When asked how the 2 -lane highway would be accessed, O'Keefe said it would not change. The residents in the area would use old Hwy 12, with the difference being, it would be less congested with 1/3 to 1/2 the traffic. Clark Jenney, Orono, reported he has a problem with the 2 -lane proposal. He explained that he was originally informed that a 6 -lane extension was required to handle the traffic and then later told it was only 4 -lanes required to handle the traffic, and questioned how 2 lanes can handle the traffic. Jenney said he does not prefer 6 lanes or 4 lanes but also does not want 2 lanes if it cannot handle the traffic. O'Keefe said 6 lanes would be necessary on the existing alignment to carry 4 lanes of traffic because of the need for frontage roads to provide local access, but added that this 2 -lane proposal will carry more traffic. The recent turndown of a toll road on Hwy 212 was noted. O'Keefe said he would prefer 4 lanes but it would not be possible to fit 4 lanes into the proposed right -of- way width. • Denney also referred to the reversible lane proposal noting Rep. Gen Olson was informed by Mn/DOT that she would take part in the evaluation process. O`Keefe agreed that there had been an oversight in her inclusion but she has been involved since tat time by way of sharing the information available. Jenney referred to O'Keefe's comment that Mn/DOT cannot be involved }p increasing the operating cost to the railroad and asked if this alternative improves the operating cost to the railroad. Jenney said, as he understood it, there would be two tracj s'where one is currently and the curve in the rail taken out. O'Keefe said the flattened curyg would not reduce the operating cost to the railroad but is being considered to avojq een Glen Park. Jenney asked if Mn/DOT was obligated to avoid the park and waS} they were not obligated but were obligated to mitigate any loss of park land. Wh4p .s1pd about Holbrook Park, which will be affected, O'Keefe said it was not possille t ,ypid this area due to a cemetary located to the north. 6 1