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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, February 27, 2012 7:00 o'clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 2 of 17 PRESENTATION 4. HIGHWAY 12 BYPASS PROJECT Ron Rauchle, Minnesota Department of Transportation, was present. Rauchle provided a brief update on Mn/DOT’s safety enhancement project that will be taking place in the summer of 2012. US 12 bypass opened to traffic on December 11, 2008, and accommodates 25,000 vehicles a day. There is a perceived problem by some westbound motorists that the roadway is multi-lane divided due to two bridge portals. In September 2011, MnDOT met to discuss Highway 12 bypass crash issues with a number of government agencies and local elected officials. A number of potential safety enhancements were identified at the meeting, and the purpose of this project is to provide additional notification to motorists that Highway 12 is a two-lane, two-direction roadway. In the short term MnDOT installed additional two-way traffic signs in 2011. For the longer term, centerline rumble strips will be installed to provide audible notification that Highway 12 is a two-lane, two-direction roadway. In addition, the project will restripe TH12 with contrasting pavement markings on each side of centerline rumble strip. Center yellow skips and no-passing yellow striping will be placed over a wider, black background. A 12-foot driving lane will be maintained with the 7-inch rumble strip. The project is expected to occur on a weekend in June. TH12 will be closed for that weekend. The project will start at 8:00 p.m. Friday night and reopen by 5 a.m. Monday morning. Traffic will be detoured on Old Highway 12 that weekend. MnDOT will be contacting the affected cities to notify them of when that closing will take place. McMillan stated she is in favor of the rumble strips, and asked how wide the rumble strip will be. McMillan expressed a concern that vehicles driving on the rumble strip will create noise for the residences adjacent to the highway. Rauchle stated the driving lane will be 12 feet and the rumble strip will add approximately one foot to the road. Rauchle indicated the frequency that people drive over the center rumble strip will be much less than the shoulder rumble strips. Rauchle noted the center rumble strip is now the standard that MnDOT follows on two-lane roads. Rauchle stated MnDOT will continue to monitor and evaluate TH12 traffic for project effectiveness. BIG ISLAND PARK REPORT - GABRIEL JABBOUR, CUSTODIAN This item follows the Public Comment portion of the agenda. PLANNING COMMISSION COMMENTS - LOREN SCHOENZEIT, REPRESENTATIVE Schoenzeit stated he had nothing to report but would be available for questions. Item #03 - CC Agenda - 03/12/2012 Approval of Council Minutes 02/27/2012 [Page 2 of 17]