HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 1069 k' _ ;�
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• Resolution No. 1069
RESOLUTION OBJECTING TO THE PROPOSED
CLOSING OF ARCOLA BRIDGE BY HENNEPIN
COUNTY IN THE CITY OF ORONO AND
CITY OF MINNETONKA BEACH
� WHEREAS, Hennepin County has recently informed the City
of Orono that Hennepin County intends to close all four lanes
of traffic on Arcola Bridge in the City of Orono and the City
of Minnetonka Beach in the spring and summer of 1980, and
WHEREAS, Hennepin County proposes to advertise for bids
for the project in the near future, and
WHEREAS, the City of Orono is concerned that the pro-
posed closing of all four lanes -of Arcola Bridge will be
adverse to the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of
the City of Orono and other citizens in the area, and
WHEREAS, the City of Orono desires to inform Hennepin
County of the threatened dangers so that Hennepin County can
alter its proposed construction plans accordingly,
• NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Orono
makes the following findings of fact:
1. The proposed closing of Arcola Bridge will be from
April l, 1980, until at least September l, 1980 , which is "
approximately 150 days in order to provide for 85 construction
days.
2. Based upon the normal delays in construction because
of weather, contractor disputes�, lack of materials and acts of
God, it is possible that Arcola Bridge could be closed for a
longer period of time.
3. Presently 15,000 cars each day pass over Arcola
Bridge using County Road 15.
4. County Road 15 is the most direct route between
a large portion of the City of Orono, the City of Mound, the
City of Spring Park, the City of Minnetrista, and several other
cities to any point east of the City of Orono, including the
Twin Cities and inost of its suburbs.
5. . If Arcola Bridge is closed as proposed, then 15 ,000
cars each day will be diverted from the most direct route over
County Road 15, over County Road 51 and other local streets in �,
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• the Cities of Orono and Long Lake. The shortest detour on
County Road 51 is . 7 mile each direction and will result in .
an additional 10 ,500 car miles traveled each day at an average
cost of $.17 per mile which will have the following adverse
economic impact on the citizens who are forced to undertake
that detour:
One day: 15 , 000 cars x .7 mile = 10, 500 x $.17 = $1, 785
30 days: $53, 550
85 days: $151, 725
100 days: $178,500
150 days: $267,750
The additional expense to residents of Minnetonka Beach who
are responsible for 2, 000 car trips per day will be much .
greater because these residents will have to travel at least
an extra five miles per day which will have the following
adverse economic impact on them:
One day: 2 , 000 cars x 5 miles = 10, 000 x $.17 = $1, 700
30 days: $51,0�0
. 85 days: � - , - � ,- $144,500
100 days : $170, 000
150 d'ays: � $255, 000 �
• Moreover, it is anticipated that 40� of the cars would be
forced ,to travel even longer and costlier detours because of
the anticipated time delays.
Therefore, it� is". clear that the cost to the general public for
150 days of detour will be $267, 750. The additional cost to
the residents of Minnetonka Beach will be at least $255, 000.
As noted, �the true cost will be even greater because many of
the cars will be forced to travel longer distances.
6. If all four lanes of Arcola Bridge are closed, the
response time for all emergency vehicles, including police,
fire and ambulance, will be increased. by five to seven minutes
according to the reports of the Police Department, the Fire
Department and the ambulance company. That increase in response
time will result in an unacceptable total response time for
those services whicfi will affect thousands of people in the
Lake Minnetonka area. '
7. Based upon the above, the Cities of Orono and
Minnetonka Beach have asked that at least one lane of traffic
be kept open at all times during construction to allow for
passage of vehicles in alternating directions, controlled by
a temporary traffic light, during the construction season
except for a limited period of time, if necessary, to pour
• the final two inch concrete overlay on the bridge.
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8. Hennepin County's only response to the above objec-
tions has been a technical response that is allegedly based
in part upon engineering needs and obviously not based upon
the needs of the people as follows:
A. It would cost more in construction expense to keep
a lane open.
B. If one lane is kept open, it may require a longer
construction period which is reflected in the additional cost.
The response by the Hennepin County staff to date has not con-
cerned itself at all with the hardship of the people and the
dangers that the closing of the bridge will cause to the health,
safety and welfare of the citizens.
9. It is the City of Orono's understanding that the
additional cost of construction if one lane is kept open is
far below the out-of�pocket cost to the citizens in the .
area and, of course, any additional� construction cost is
irrelevant when one considers the unacceptable increased
dangers to the citizens because of the inability to provide
adequate response time for police, fire and ambulance services
to the western a.rea of Lake Minnetonka due to the complete
• closing of the Arcola Bridge.
Based upon the above findings of fact,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Orono
requests:
l. Hennepin County should direct its engineers to
redraft the plans and specifications to provide for at least
one lane of traffic during construction and, if possible, two
lanes of the four lanes available.
2. That no advertisement for bids be placed or contracts
let until this threat to the Iiealth, safety and welfare of the
citizens in the area is eliminated.
3. In the event that no response to this request is
received in writing within l4 days hereof, then the city will
direct its staff to take those steps which are necessary
to protect the health, safetg and welfare of the citizens
of Orono and the citizens in the area.
Adopted: August 28, 1979 ����
William B. Van est, Mayor
. ATTEST:
alter nson,
Clerk/A inistrator