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A LITTLE RUMBLE ABOUT RUMBLE STRIPS DOWN THE CENTER OF HWY 5 IN VICTORIA Council voted 4-1 on July 23rd to approve rumble strips being installed down the center of Highway 5 through Victoria as the construction project is nearing completion and the first coat of asphalt will be laid. Completion is anticipated by Labor Day. Stated City Engineer Cara Geheren, "In 2011 MnDOT updated their policy that rumble strips be placed on all rural trunk highways, in outstate type of circumstances." She thus didn't agree with MnDOT's proposal to install rumble strips on Hwy 5 through Victoria, which is not a rural location. "But given the inability to widen Hwy 5 further, this could help reduce accidents," she said. "MnDOT has some discretion as to where they put rumble strips. They chose to put them on Hwy 5 from Hwy 41 down through the whole project, except for at intersections and driveways. It would be a centerline rumble. However, I'm recommending to eliminate them from Bavaria Road to 78th Street/Stieger Lake Lane." Cara also mentioned there have been complaints about noise caused by driving over rumble strips from residents at County Road 10 where they have been installed. But she added, "I'm not making the recommendation because of the noise but because this is not a rural section. I don't see a safety benefit there." Stated City Administrator Don Uram, "We've had ongoing discussions about this. As an actual user of Hwy 5, as a commuter, I support rumble strips -- in the harrowing section also." Cara had referred to the road curve between Stieger Lake Lane and Park Drive. Asked Mayor Mary Thun, "Where can I go to hear those rumble strips? The ones on County Road 10 are different than what we'll have on Hwy 5." Replied Cara, "I have asked MnDOT where they've been placed locally and they haven't gotten back to me. I know they're at Old Hwy 212 and a section of Flying Cloud Drive, but those have been in place for a really long time so are worn down." Regarding noise complaints caused by rumble strips, Mayor Thun said, "I don't want to be unsympathetic but when you buy your house on a road or a highway, you've got to expect there will be road improvements. Either we stand or we fall now and not after the work is done." Asked Councilmember Jim Crowley, "Is there a liability here if there's an accident and we've overridden MnDOT's recommendation to put them the whole way? Our city engineer is on record as requesting a change. I don't believe we should override MnDOT. A friend of mine died on that curve." Said Mayor Thun, "This road is going to be busy. If anyone thinks traffic is going to go down to Hwy 212, they're mistaken. When there's fog and you dirft in the fog there, the strips will help. And they must be put in correctly!" Said Councilmember Tom O'Connor, "If the only downside is noise, that means someone is driving on the line and is in trouble. It's noisy only when somebody is potentially in trouble. If that's the only downside and it could save a life ...." Agreed Councilmember Tom Strigel, "I don't think I've ever disagreed with a recommendation of yours, Cara, but this time I thinking I will." Councilmember Kim Roden voted against the motion to approve rumble strips throughout the Hwy 5 project as recommended by MnDOT. "I'm on that road at peak times," she said. "Weather is the huge part of accidents on that road, ice snow or impaired vision due to weather.
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