City and County staff met with MnDOT staff to review options for construction of the pedestrian underpass and other traffic impacts as part of the 2012 Hwy 5 project.  These options will be presented Tuesday, October 11^th  to the City Council.  Below is the agenda and staff report which provides details on the options and the staff recommendation.

This will be discussed under the City Administrator’s report at approximately 7 p.m.  We strongly encourage all business owners to attend this meeting to better understand the options and provide feedback to the City Council.

If you have questions or need more information, please feel free to contact us.  If you are unable to attend the meeting, but would like to provide written comments, please feel free to send an email to Holly Kreft and it will be shared with the City Council.

Holly J. Kreft
Community Development Director
City of Victoria
(952) 443-4218

 

CITY OF VICTORIA

REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING COUNCIL CHAMBERS 7951 ROSE – VICTORIA, MINNESOTA 6:30 P.M.

October 11, 2011

 

Mayor Mary Hershberger Thun
Jim Crowley
Tom O’Connor
Kim Roden
Tom Strigel

NOTICE:  Portions of this meeting may be closed by the City Council to discuss pending or              

                    threatened litigation.

 

DEPT.       NO.       ITEM

 

1        Call to Order, Roll Call and Pledge of Allegiance

 

2       Adopt Agenda

 

               3       Open Forum is an opportunity for citizens to discuss issues with the Council on items not on the agenda.  Individuals are asked to limit their comments to 5 minutes.  The Mayor may limit the number of speakers discussing the same issue.  The City Council will take no official action on items discussed at the Open Forum.  Items discussed at the Open Forum may be referred to staff for possible consideration at a future meeting.

 

               4       Visitor’s Presentation

 

5       Consent Agenda

All items listed under the Consent Agenda are considered routine and non-controversial by the Council and will be approved by one motion.  There will be no separate discussion on these items unless a Council Member, Staff or Citizen so requests, in which case, the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered immediately following the motion on the consent items.

 

Minutes of the September 26, 2011 City Council Meeting

 

Fire                 -A- FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant Application

____1) Agenda Statement No. 11-181

____2) Exhibits

____3) Resolution No. 11-101

 

P&R                -B- Authorization to hire staff for the Recreation Center Front Desk

____1) Agenda Statement No. 11-182

____2) Exhibits

 

Engineer        -C- 86^th Street Improvements ~ Payment Request No. 3

____1) Agenda Statement No. 11-183

____2) Exhibits

 

 

               6      Payment of Bills

 

Finance           -A- Approve the October 11, 2011 Claims Roster in the amount of $372,555.43

 

               7      Donations

 

Admin            -A- Accept Donations

____1) Agenda Statement No. 11-184

____2) Exhibits

____3) Resolution No. 11-102

 

               8      Public Hearing

 

               9      New Business

 

Admin            -A- Appointment of Andrew Heger as Victoria Fire Chief 1

____1) Agenda Statement No. 11-185

____2) Exhibits

 

10      Unfinished Business

 

Comm. Dev.  -A- Land Trust Lots Update

____1) Agenda Statement No. 11-186

____2) Exhibits

____3) Resolution No. 11-103

 

11      Reports of the City Administrator

 

Admin            -A- 2012 TH5 Improvements ~ Staging and Road Closures

____1) Agenda Statement No. 11-187

____2) Exhibits

 

               12      Reports of the Mayor, Council Members, Attorney, Committees         

 

               13      Discussion

 

14      Closed Session

 

15      Adjournment

 

October 4, 2011 Planning Commission Meeting                                                                       6:30 p.m.

October 6, 2011 Personnel Committee Meeting                                                                        8:00 a.m.

October 10, 2011 Columbus Day – Offices Closed

October 11, 2011 Senior Commission Meeting                                                                           8:00 a.m.

October 11, 2011 City Council Meeting                                                                                       6:30 p.m.

October 17, 2011 Park and Recreation Committee Meeting                                                    6:30 p.m.

October 18, 2011 Finance Committee Meeting                                                                         4:30 p.m.

October 18, 2011 Planning Commission Meeting                                                                     6:30 p.m.

October 19, 2011 Metropolitan Council Public Meeting and Open House @ City Hall               5:30-7:30 p.m.

October 24, 2011 City Council Workshop – Utility Budgets                                                    5:00 p.m.

October 24, 2011 City Council Meeting                                                                                      6:30 p.m.

October 26, 2011 Business Development Committee Meeting                                               6:30 p.m.

 

 

AGENDA STATEMENT NO. 11-187

 

BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL

City of Victoria, Minnesota

 

 

SUBJECT:      2012 TH 5 Improvements ~ Staging and Road Closures

FOR COUNCIL AGENDA DATED:        October 11, 2011

EXHIBITS:    Project Map

DEPARTMENT:      Engineering

SUMMARY:

On Thursday, September 29, 2011, City Staff (Cara and Don) met with Mn/DOT staff along with Lyndon Robjent, Carver County Engineer and Paul Oehme, Chanhassen City Engineer to review the staging and road closures proposed by Mn/DOT for the 2012 TH 5 Improvements.  The purpose of this meeting was to review in detail the extent of the construction impacts on traffic and discuss options relating to those impacts. 

 

The attached project map shows some but not all of the planned improvements for TH 5 extending from TH 41 through the intersection of TH 5 and CSAH 11 north near Dairy Queen.  Project elements from east to west which will impact traffic include the following:

 

1. Right turn lane improvements in all directions at TH 41.
2. Access closure at Lone Cedar Lane in Chanhassen.
3. Pedestrian tunnel, trail and retaining wall construction at Minnewashta Parkway.
4. Turn lane improvements at Minnewashta Parkway.
5. Shoulder improvements from east of Lone Cedar Lane to Bavaria Road (CSAH 13).
6. Right turn lane construction on northbound Bavaria Road at TH 5.
7. Pedestrian crossing improvements at Bavaria Road and TH 5.
8. Shoulder improvements from Bavaria Road to 78^th Street.
9. Turn lane improvements at Park Drive /Kochia Lane.
10. Storm sewer pipe replacement between Park Drive and 78^th Street (2 locations).
11. Pavement reconstruction (settlement area near Stieger Lake Lane and Fire Station).
12. Storm sewer pipe replacement between 80^th Street and Quamoclit.
13. Storm sewer pipe replacement at Quamoclit.
14. Bridge Replacement.
15. Storm sewer pipe replacement west of the Bridge.
16. Turn lane and shoulder improvements at CSAH 11 North (Dairy Queen).
17. Mill and Overlay from TH 41 to CSAH 11 North.

 

Discussions at the meeting centered around options for constructing improvements without closing TH 5 in areas outside of the Pavement Reconstruction and Bridge Replacement.  Options discussed in detail included eliminating replacement of pipe crossings, replacement of pipe crossing using directional drilling methods, overnight and weekend work, construction of improvements ½ at a time under traffic and contract incentives.

 

Several options emerged as a result of these discussions which are summarized below.  It should be noted that this is a complex project to construct given the narrow right-of-way, steep slopes wetlands and high volume of traffic. Any option selected will result in a significant disruption in traffic.  In all options, the replacement of the bridge and the pavement reconstruction near Stieger Lake Lane will result in a full closure at those two locations from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

 

Option 1:  Construction of improvements with full closure.

 

• Contractor would be permitted to close TH 5 from TH 41 to Stieger Lake Lane for six weeks to complete improvements.
• Contract would include incentives for work to be completed in less than six weeks ($$ reward/per each day road opens early).
• Cities would need to permit work from dawn until dusk.
• Work on TH 5 in this area could be staged after July 4^th until Labor Day.
• Local detour would be TH 41 to TH 7 to Rolling Acres to 78^th Street to Stieger Lake Lane.
• Access would be maintained to homes and business located within the work zones.
• Work on turn lane on northbound Bavaria (requires closure) would occur either before or after work above.
• Work on TH 5 west of the bridge would occur under traffic.

 

Option 2:  Construction of major improvements with some closures.

 

• In order to facilitate this method, traffic would be restricted to one lane with control by flaggers directing traffic to take turns using available lane for shoulder and turn lane improvements throughout the corridor.
• Closure of TH 5 at Minnewashta Parkway for three weeks to construct the north half of the pedestrian underpass. One lane of TH 5 would then be opened while the south half is constructed.
• Trail and retaining wall construction at Minnewashta Parkway completed with one lane of TH 5 open.
• Construction of pipe crossings using combination of directional drilling methods and overnight construction.
• Mn/DOT traffic and safety staff is concerned about safety of both traveling public and workers in this scenario given the existing conditions of the corridor (narrow corridor, adjacent steep slopes, and wetlands).
• Higher costs for Mn/DOT and local agencies.
• Construction between Stieger Lake Lane (east) and TH 41 is likely 12 weeks.

 

Option 3:  Construction of all improvements under traffic (except bridge replacement and pavement repair area).

 

• To facilitate this method, traffic would be restricted to one lane with control by flaggers directing traffic to take turns using available lane throughout the corridor.
• Construction of a temporary lane along the south side of existing TH 5 at Minnewashta Parkway near the pumpkin farm (Boorsma) property would need to be explored further to allow the pedestrian underpass to be constructed one half at a time.  The new pavement would be close to the front door of the home at this location.
• Similar safety concerns as noted in Option 2.
• Higher cost for Mn/DOT and local agencies.
• Significant work would be ongoing for length of construction season (May to November).
• Construction of a bypass lane results in the need to relocate more utilities which may delay the overall project schedule.

Mn/DOT is seeking direction from the City on which option is preferred.  Timing is critical as the Construction Documents (Plans and Special Provisions) must be complete including signatures by City and County Engineers by October 20^th in order to stay on track to meet January bid opening schedule.  If the 20^th is not met, the bid date would move to February, which is not anticipated to have a direct impact on the construction schedules.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends Option No. 1.  Option 1shortens the overall construction duration for this segment, minimizes the impacts to the traveling public, allows for a consistent local detour, improves safety for the traveling public and the workers and incents the contractor to move quickly.

If there is Council consensus on which option to direct Mn/DOT to proceed with, staff recommends that the City Engineer proceed with signing the plans to meet the project schedule.  The Council will be asked to approve an agreement between Mn/DOT and the City covering the City elements of the project scope.  It is anticipated that this agreement will be brought to the Council for approval before the end of the year.