05-08-1979 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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R�GULAR i�iEETING OF '�'HE ORONO COUNCIL, PZAY 8, 1979 Page 13 Dick Benson, City Adninistrator, entered into the FOX STREET PROBLEDi record the following concerning Fox Street, dated P�ay 4, 1979 , which states : The Fox Street traffic situation between Eiennepin County #146 to Orono Orchard Road caused by the closing of Fiennepin County #15, the Tanager Lake bridge, and Coffee bridge has created an intolerable situation that is deterimental to the safety, health, and welfare of not only the residents living in the area, but also to the people using the street to avoid the detour system that has been imposed on us by Hennepin County. The traffic count on this particular street has increased from 650 cars per day to 3, 701 cars per day. Considering the type of street Fox Street is (five-ton street versus the detour syste� which is designated for nine-ton) , we are experiencing a coriplete breakdown of the street in general. Estimated costs to restore the street to its original condition is estimated at $15, 000 simply because we are not only losing all our surface but the increased traffic is literally pumping the bad soils to the surface of the street because of the swamp conditons in the area. It has become impossible to police the area because of the terrain, narrowness of the street, lack of shoulders, and the unwillingness of motorists to adjust their speed to the conditions of the street, and the lack of cooperation fror.m Hennepin County to assist us in our requests for aid. I have personally seen people having to jump out of the wav of speeding motorists driving on the edge of the street, and cars simply driving all over the place attempting to avoid areas in the street that have completely broken down. We cannot work on the street with our Public ti�orks Department to even attempt to fill holes because of impossible situations with traffic. We are now calling each resident living on the street to receive their approval of closing the street. We are rer,.uesting Hennepin County to install a street closed sign on County #146. We are requesting inout from the postal departnent, bus companies, fire and � other services. I have talked to P4aybr Van P1est for his input but have not had the opportunity to contact other Councilrler,lbers. Legally, we can under these conditions close the street with Council approval. If we have everything together by Tuesday evening anci with Council approval, we will close Fox Street bet��een #146 and Orono Orchard Road with barricades on the east end also at the s�ort service drive into Orono Orchard Road and signing at Hennepin County #146. This will allow residents ingress and egress and other emergency vehicles to respond to any emergency. (Continued)