06.02 - Memo to Crow Wing Cty Highway - CSAH 11

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Memorandum Date: June 4, 2013 To: Crow Wing County Highway Department From: City of Pequot Lakes Re: County State Aid Highway 11 The City of Pequot Lakes has intensively been studying the impact the proposed Highway 371 realignment will have on the City. One major benefit that has been identified is that the City will have the opportunity to reshape the "gateway" entrances of the City. The "gateways" have been identified as the south entrance on existing Highway 371, the north entrance on existing Highway 371 and the east entrance on existing CSAH 11. Once visitors (and residents) pass through these "gateways" they will know they are in a unique and special place. As the County plans for the reconstruction and ultimate turn-back of CSAH 11, the City would like to provide input on various aspects of the street before it enters the design phase as it will one day be a part of Pequot Lakes First and foremost, it's important to understand the primary function of this quarter-mile segment of CSAH 11 is to provide a framework for capturing value from the local land use pattern. The primary function is not moving traffic at speed. The roadway east of the future TH 371 alignment has a primary function of moving traffic at speed- it is important that the corridor remain a safe and efficient highway for high-speed automobile travel—but west of the future intersection, the movement of traffic at high speeds is counterproductive. The City of Pequot Lakes offers the following points regarding the design for CSAH 11, west of the future Highway 371 alignment. • Roundabouts: The City is open to exploring the option of constructing roundabouts on CSAH 11. They have determined that if designed properly, roundabouts allow for traffic to flow freely without impacting the safety of pedestrians. The City is in favor of "small diameter" roundabouts. "Large diameter" roundabouts do not fit into the City's current or long term plans. The intersection of County Road 112 and CSAH 11 and the intersection of existing Highway 371 and CSAH 11 have been discussed as possible locations for roundabouts. The city understands that a detailed traffic study of the corridor would be required before any roundabouts are designed.