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ABOUT THE HWY 5 PROJECT IN 2012 DISRUPTION FOR THE PEOPLE OF VICTORIA City Engineer Cara Geheren reported to councilmembers on September 12th: "Plans are nearing completion. Hwy 5 construction will be from Highway 41 west through the Victoria Dairy Queen intersection. There is construction beyond the Victoria bridge and sinkhole. It will impact the ability of traffic to move through the area. We're starting to get more information. They're discussing how much time they'll need to construct the underpass at the arboretum. They've said 30 days. I was surprised at that. The project continues to be on schedule. The road will be closed there at Minnewashta Parkway. Also a closure period at Bavaria Road when the northern piece is being constructed with turn lanes. They're talking about the staging of those different pieces and closures." Stated Councilmember Tom O'Connor, "I think the average citizen has no idea how disruptive this is going to be." *** On September 26th Cara reported that approximately 100 people attended the Open House on September 15th. "Some of the information caused a lot of concern," she stated. Unanticipated road closures are in the offing that nobody knew about, including city staff. Stated Councilmember Jim Crowley, "The original commitment was always having one lane open." Reported Cara, "Generally the issue is the additional closures to Hwy 5 outside of the bridge construction and settlement area. They've got the Minnewashta intersection closed for six to eight weeks and there are closures at other intersections." How did this happen? she was asked. "Once the plan design gets this far," replied Cara, "it is construction folks saying how much time they need. MnDOT tried to present a plan that was cost effective, which resulted in closures." "Construction is just one component of costs," stated Councilmember Crowley. Councilmember Tom O'Connor, serving as Mayor Pro Tem in the absence that evening of Mayor Mary Thun, said that shutting down the road in that way will not be tolerated. Said Cara, "Since the Open House, MnDOT has made a formal presentation to the business community. The outcome was for staff to meet with MnDOT to discuss alternatives to their plan, that we could evaluate." "From my perspective," said Councilmember Tom Strigel, "it was a pretty constructive outcome of that meeting." "That was one of the most tense meetings I've ever attended as a councilmember," said Councilmember Roden. "The [additional] closures were a surprise to staff and to us as well as the residents." Cara said there are two other steps in the process that need approval from the city. "If we say no, they wouldn't be able to build the plan," she said. Stated Councilmember O'Connor, "It's a speed bump we have to get over."
ASKING ABOUT ASTER TRAIL AND ASTER CIRCLE LOCATED IN NORTHEAST CORNER OF VICTORIA Council voted 4-0 on September 12th to spend $6,000 to gather more information related to streets and utilities at Aster Trail and Aster Circle, an area located in the northeast corner of Victoria city limits. "You have to drive through other communities to get there," said City Engineer Cara Geheren. "There have no sewer and city water there. They have gravel roads, septic systems, and private wells." Cara said it's one of the last neighborhoods in Victoria without reconstructed streets. Cara said that feasibility studies were performed in 1989 and 2002 and the projects never proceeded. "This area is pretty expensive for special assessments," she add, reminding councilmembers that sewer and water utilities are 100% assessed to the homeowners, while the city picks up 50% of street construction costs
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October 2011 |
