Cliff Buchan
News Editor

Try them and youíll like them. But give the try test about six months to sink in.

So said traffic engineers last week who are leading the planning process that is expected to lead to the construction of seven roundabouts in Forest Lake. The circular intersection plan is targeting seven key points from SW 19th St. east to Lake Street (US-61) in downtown Forest Lake.

Construction is targeted for the spring of 2008 and project planners were in town July 27 to update business and property owners in and near the Broadway Corridor. The Broadway Business Task Force has met nine times over the past two years.

More than 20 businesses were represented July 27 and the questions centered around the effectiveness of roundabouts and why the option has been selected.

Public will like

Project engineers said last week the early public reaction to roundabouts is skepticism and dislike. But that will change, engineer Mike Rogers said, as the public becomes familiar with the circular intersection design that utilized no signal lights, but free-moving traffic.

ìSupport may not be strong now,î Rogers conceded to the group last week.

But after six months of use, Rogers said studies indicate that two-thirds to three-fourths of motorists will come to like roundabouts.

The key, he said, will be a strong public education program to help inform the public how the intersections work.

ìItís hard to visualize until youíve seen one,î Rogers said.

ìThere is a six-month learning curve. Then people get the hang of it. People figure it out.î

Why roundabouts?

Roundabouts are the plan of choice for the past year now under the joint Forest Lake City Council and Washington County project.

The project calls for the construction of roundabouts on W. Broadway Ave. at SW 19th St., the west and east ramps of I-35, SW 12th St., 7th St., 4th St. and Lake Street.

The 20-year project is expected to handle traffic growth through the year 2028.

The city-county plan calls for the construction of a raised center median to control traffic turns to the north and south along Broadway. At 12th and Broadway, the county has recorded more crashes than any other intersection on a county road, planners said.

With the city ruling out any hope of building a frontage road on the north side of Broadway to provide business access, roundabouts and their free U-turn style is the next best thing in providing that access to businesses.

Roundabouts are also seen as a quicker and cheaper method.

In selecting roundabouts, the city and county ruled out a plan for a major reconstruction of the Broadway-I-35 interchange. Under the current plan, the bridge will be widened only to accommodate pedestrian movement, but no new traffic lanes will be added.

A two-year construction program has been compressed to one year with the roundabout plan.

To do the major intersection change at I-35, planners early on contemplated building a new I-35 crossing at SW 11th Avenue for utilization during Broadway construction. That idea is now on the back burner but planners are beginning a feasibility study for the second crossing.

Construction would not come until after 2008. It would serve to take traffic pressure off Broadway.

Other topics

Planners confirmed last week the seven-intersection design is the largest of its kind in Minnesota for double lane roundabouts, but is secondary on the national scene. In Detroit, for example, 14 three-lane roundabouts are being constructed in one area.

Business owners also learned that negotiations with property owners have started. The move comes in some areas where private property is needed to build the new intersections. With the non-roundabout design, all property along Broadway would be subject to easement giving.

Mayor Terry Smith informed the crowd the city is working with a consulting firm to help shape a corridor plan that will target greenery for the center medians and the roundabout interior circles. Smith said the city is also talking to utility companies to explore placing all services underground to improve on the beautification of Broadway.

Sandy Cullen, project manager for Washington County, said the timing was right to begin the roundabout project to address a problem as quickly as possible.

With business growth along Broadway, there is an obligation to deal with a problem, she said.

ìPeople want to be on Broadway,î she said. ìPeople need to be on Broadway. The problem will continue even with a new bridge.î

City Administrator Chip Robinson said he expected the city would be willing to take a new look at its sign ordinance for the Broadway corridor. If the roundabout design posed a problem for current signage, the administrator said adjustments could be made to allow new forms of signage to direct motorists to a desired destination.

The project will be constructed with county and city funds and a $1.5 million federal highway grant that will come off the top of the total project cost.

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Forest Lake Times
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