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The Victoria GAZETTE |
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November 2011 |
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Cara suggested the six-week closure could be from the Fourth of July to Labor Day. "The local detour would be to Hwy 7. Cities would need to permit work from dawn to dusk. The contract would need to include incentives to get work done early." Option #2 entailed a three-week closure at Minnewashta Pkwy in order to construct the Hwy 5 underpass -- with one-lane traffic through the area controlled by flaggers over a twelve-week period. Cara said that, with this option, "a vast majority of the work would occur with the road open and flaggers on each end of construction. There would not be continuous traffic flow. These types of flagging 'closures' could be from 5 to 20 minutes from Hwy 41 to the Victoria Dairy Queen, pretty much for the length of the summer, pretty much for 12 weeks." She repeated that the option includes a full three-week closure for construction of the pedestrian underpass, where contractors would build the north half and then the south half. "The city would need to allow some work in the overnight hours." Option #3 allows all improvements to be constructed under traffic. "There would be a temporary lane constructed and it would move traffic very close to the Boorsma home," said Cara. "They would need to relocate utilities. It would stretch the duration of construction in excess of the schedule. It may have the potential to jump into another construction schedule."
Comments from City Staff and Council "Our personal opinion, Don's and mine, is that with the flagging option (#2), we don't like to sit there not going anywhere," said Cara. "It seems that shortening the construction schedule as much as possible would be a goal." When asked if the six-week closure (in Option #1) could be shortened, Cara replied, "I think the six-week schedule is an aggressive schedule. Weather can have an impact." "As for incentives," she said, "a time element will be associated with the bids, plus provide an incentive on top of that, so much for every day the schedule is shortened. It forces contractors to do more upfront planning." "Another question I've gotten is, why doesn't the city allow 24/7 construction?" she said. "But even allowing construction from dawn to dusk will result in calls, so I'm not recommending it specifically be written into the contract. But there's nothing to prevent a contractor from coming in and asking for an extension, which we can consider on a case by case basis." Cara said that another question she's received is about maintaining access. Yes, access will be maintained to the Boorsma home, the Arboretum, to neighborhoods. About the mill and overlay, it would take maybe three weeks if performed after all the construction is done, or it could be done during various closures. "I will be asked to sign the plans in the next couple weeks," said Cara, "but it's not mandatory." The state does not need our permission." Said Administrator Don Uram, an Eden Prairie resident, "As someone who drives Hwy 5 and experienced all the conditions, the project itself is big and there are a lot of things happening. I want to emphasize that what we'll receive when the project is completed will be fantastic for our community. Benefits, after years of discussions about Hwy 5, are certainly the efforts that have gone into the work so far." Stated Councilmember Roden, "The incentive monies are powerful. They make a huge difference. I'm disappointed the project can't be done the way we originally supposed." Added Councilmember O'Connor, "We desperately need this project, especially the turn lanes. What option does MnDOT prefer?" "Option #1 or #2," replied Cara. "They have a hard time with #3."
Victoria Business Owners Ask Questions Several Victoria business owners were in attendance at this October 11th city council meeting. Most of them went to the podium to address councilmembers. Said Jeff Byrne, owner of Cabin Fever Sporting Goods, "It seems they lied a lot to us through this whole ordeal. Everything keeps changing as they keep going. How many people is this underpass going to benefit? Six or seven? When we asked to get a trail (or walking path) along the bridge, the answer was no. And we heard that Boorsma's will have to vacate their place. Also, who pays for the incentives? I've never sat at a flag for 20 minutes. If we went to Option #1, can we make the main detour go to Hwy 7, not just the local detour? Why make Hwy 212 the main detour?"
Click here to continue Hwy 5 questions.
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