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April 2011 |
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VICTORIA APPROVES HIGHWAY 5 LAYOUT FOR SUMMER OF 2012 CONSTRUCTION Councilmembers held a public hearing on March 28th to consider the final layout plan for improvements to approximately three miles of Trunk Highway 5 from Hwy 41 west through Victoria out to County Road 11 at the Dairy Queen. Council voted 4-0 to give its consent to MnDOT for the layout. Councilmember Kim Roden was absent. City Engineer Cara Geheren said that municipal consent is required for MnDOT to proceed. The Hwy 5 closure, not expected to last more than three months during the summer of 2012, is due to two issues: 1) the replacement of the Hwy 5 bridge that was built in 1952 and 2) the highway replacement in the settlement area by the pond near HEI. Lynn Clarkowski, an engineer and MnDOT's area manager for the southern metro district, attended this meeting and emphasized, "The project is dictated by the bridge replacement and, even greater than that, the soil settlement area." He said design of the settlement area and taking measurements is necessary. "We estimate the soil correction will take two to three months. Never in Carver County, with Carver County soils, has it taken a shorter amount of time than our estimate." Mr. Clarkowski continued, "We're trying to be conservative when we tell the city and the businesses it [the Hwy 5 closure] should be done between Memorial Day and Labor Day. We don't want to underestimate. If we open it up to traffic prematurely, we'd have to come back and do it all over a few years later." He also elaborated on the total construction time in Victoria during the summer of 2012. "There will also be construction activity in the spring and in the fall that will occur outside the Memorial Day to Labor Day time-span. This is longer than a three-month project," he said. Asked Councilmember Jim Crowley, "How will we get information?" "You can get on an email list for constant contact. Key information will be put out for constant contact." "Will that constant contact be available for regular citizens?" asked Councilmember Tom Strigel. "Oh, yes," he replied. Mayor Mary Thun asked the city administrator, "Are you planning to assign someone for this project, a key person to work with MnDOT, as we have Ann Mahnke working with the Sewer Interceptor Project, which works out well." Administrator Don Uram reported that City Engineer Cara Geheren will be responsible for the technical aspects, Community Development Director Holly Kreft will handle marketing and communications, and he will be involved as well. "I'm a real big supporter of penalty incentives," stated Mayor Thun. "This is so very important to Victoria. We've gotten to where our downtown area is thriving, and we just can't let that go. It's very sensitive." Mr. Clarkowski reported that Cara Geheren, the city's engineer, does make it a point to attend MnDOT's monthly meetings. "Cara is representing you well in this process. Don't think this is the last time you talk to MnDOT," he said. In reply to another question, Mr. Clarkowski replied, "Maps will be available that show alternate routes, not just the official detour." Said Mayor Thun, "I know some people think we should have a stop-and-go sign and not an underpass at the Minnewashta Parkway intersection. But the grant money can't be used for a stop-and-go sign and, besides that, a stop-and-go sign is not warranted for that intersection. I know the Arboretum is very excited about the project, the underpass, and the Chaska-Victoria trail." Councilmember Jim Crowley thanked the Southwest Metro Chamber of Commerce and its president, Deb McMillan, for bringing a representative from St. Peter, Minnesota, to talk about the highway closure they endured. Randy Miller of the Business Development Committee asked if there will be weight restrictions on Stieger Lake Lane, since that street will be bearing the brunt of traffic during the closure of Hwy 5. The city engineer will check for that information. Mayor Thun thanked MnDOT for coming all the way from St. Paul to attend Victoria meetings. Mr. Clark asked Victoria to consider what projects the city thinks MnDOT should be tackling for the next 20 years.
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