Cliff Buchan
News EditorSlowly but surely the pieces are coming together for what will be major changes to W. Broadway Ave. (CR-2).
With $3 million in federal funds already earmarked for the major road in Forest Lake, Washington County authorities last week said additional state dollars have been secured.
The funding decisions are in concert with a Broadway design study that is being completed this year. The county, in partnership with the city of Forest Lake and state, will undertake improvements to CR-2 from US-61 (Lake Street) to I-35 in 2006-2007, according to Don Theisen, county engineer.
Late last month, Sixth District Congressman Mark Kennedy said $3 million for Broadway has been secured in the six-year federal transportation funding bill. It is not certain when those funds become available and the final approval of the funding bill is still working its way through Congress and must receive presidential approval.
The funds would support an expanded CR-2 overpass at I-35.
Last week the county said it has secured $548,000 in funds from the Metropolitan Council to construct a pedestrian/bicycle bridge or tunnel serving the Hardwood Creek Trail at CR-2 (W. Broadway), Theisen said. The money is allotted to the state by the federal government from federal gasoline tax revenue.
What will be constructed is part of the study that will take place this year, the engineer said. ìWeíre going to work on that,î Theisen said. ìWe donít want to build something that is ugly.î
The new trail crossing at Broadway is billed as a safety feature and a way to reduce crashes and conflicts between vehicles and trail users crossing Broadway, Theisen said. One method that will be considered, he said, is a tunnel under Broadway.
The design study will take into account the requirements of a bridge grade, water levels and underground utilities.
The trail crossing money will require a 20 percent county matching amount and some funding from the city may be sought, the engineer said.
In addition to the trail crossing dollars, Theisen said Washington County has also received $200,000 in federal pass through dollars for use with a planned Hardwood Creek Trail trailhead.
A site for the parking area serving the trail has not been determined, but it may fall in line with county plans for a transit center hub somewhere in the area of Northland Mall, Theisen said.
The county will contribute $50,000 to the trailhead project, but no city funding will be requested.
Survey continues
FL meeting set
With funding details coming into play, the county is steadily moving ahead with its traffic surveys and plans to update the public.
On-site traffic counters have been manning Broadway intersections this spring and vehicle counting strips are in place as well, Theisen said.
Final traffic counts have yet to be pinpointed but one preliminary county puts the number of vehicles a day at 27,000 between SW 12th Street and I-35, the county said.
Itís figures of this type that will be shared with the public during the first informational meeting 7:30 a.m., Monday, April 26 at American Legion Post 225, 355 W. Broadway Ave.
All Forest Lake area business owners and residents are invited, Theisen said. Invitations to 60 businesses in or close to the Broadway corridor have been sent, he added.
Theisen and Dennis Hegberg, the county commissioner serving the north end of the county, said additional concern is being aimed at the I-35-US-8 connection.
ìThere is a concern for Highway 8,î Hegberg said. ìWe might be going back to the feds for more money.î
Washington County officials, in looking at the big picture for transportation issues, said the state may need to consider the US-8 issue as it connects to I-35. South and westbound traffic can connect with southbound I-35 traffic but there is no connection for northbound vehicles.
And in a related Forest Lake issue, county officials are quietly exploring the possibility of a new I-35 exit to Forest Lake at SW 11th Avenue. No formal proposals have been made but the road connection has long been on the radar screen for city and county planners who would like to ease traffic pressure at Broadway (CR-2).
Funding remains a question mark. ìWe are still lining up the money,î Hegberg said.
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