13 - Engineer's Report - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Pequot Lakes - Hwy 371 North August 21, 2005 Page 11 of 14 38. Safe pedestrian and school children crossing of the new four-lane highway with turn lanes is a very big concern. With only one traffic signal at CSAH I I/Main Street, this will be the only designated pedestrian crossing. The Council feels strongly that a slower "City street"speed limit through the urban core section of the City (30-35 mph) instead of a "Highway"speed limit (45 mph or greater) will help with pedestrian and school children safety. Considering the one location of the school and the separate location of the shopping area, one single pedestrian crosswalk at the one signalized intersection will neither effectively, safely, or best serve this purpose. The City is reviewing other ways (tunnels, bridges, etc.) to safely allow pedestrians and school children to cross the highway. While the tunnel approach seems to be discussed more at this time than a bridge, either of these approaches will cost a great deal of money. MnDOT's contribution is very minimal. The City would have to initiate searching for and obtaining a grant (most likely from the federal government) as well as contribute monies. The City will continue to investigate ways to get people safely across the highway at multiple points. 39. The aesthetics of the highway corridor thru town is another important issue. Items such as lighting, stamped concrete(cobblestone)medians, sidewalks (maybe on both sides, set back 6' to 8', meandering), etc. through the urban segment have been discussed. The cost of any aesthetics above and beyond the "standard construction" for MnDOT will be at the City's expense. The City needs clarification of what MnDOT will provide so it can determine what, if any, aesthetic enhancements it might want to make and pay for. 40. There is a City watermain crossing under TH 371 at Main Street/CSAH 11 (1960's vintage) that will possibly require a casing at the City's cost as part of this project. We are awaiting feedback from MnDOT on what they will require from the City on an older watermain such as this. CADocuments and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLKB\082105 Overall List of Issues-memo.doc