Temporary exit ramps won’t be permanent
Motorists who have been utilizing exit and entrance ramps to I-35 from CR-83 will be forced to change their routes when the ramps are closed. They will close when the new Broadway bridge is opened. (Courtesy photo by Washington County)
Jennifer Mevissen
Staff Writer
Making the temporary exit ramps at CR-83 (SW 11th Ave.) permanent is too preliminary in the timeline of transportation improvement projects that have been identified in this area.
And from what county and state officials say, it was challenging enough to get access to I-35 at the new 11th Ave. overpass.
When discussion came up about constructing a bigger Broadway Avenue bridge (CR-2) in one year, MnDOT allowed Washington County to build exit ramps at CR-83 under the condition that they be temporary.
Wayne Sandberg, county engineer, noted the request was granted on the agreement the exit ramps could not be open until the Broadway bridge was removed, which happened in May, and are to be closed when the reconstructed bridge and avenue are again carrying traffic.
“It’s a matter of days,” Don Theisen, county public works director, said this Tuesday of opening CR-2.
He confirmed that the exit ramps will be closed when that happens, which is the message that was told during an Oct. 4 workshop between transportation representatives from both the county and state, Federal Highway Administration and Forest Lake City Council. The city council passed a resolution last month to support keeping the exit ramps open through the winter.
Public Input
Proponent John Freed lobbied to leave the northbound ramp exiting the interstate in place for at least a month after the Broadway bridge is operational to see how it affects traffic.
“I don’t want to ignore concerns for or against,” he said.
Tim MacKenzie, owner of Forest Lake Health Club, said the community has needed another exit since he moved here 28 years ago.
Sandberg said that once CR-2 is fully functioning, traffic won’t normalize until 2013.
Those in favor of the ramps were met at a town hall open forum preceding the workshop by those who are against keeping the access open. Townhome owners in Island Estates presented a signed petition imploring participating agencies to keep the promise that was made; the exit ramps would be temporary in nature.
“My hope is…they keep their word,” said Russell Peterson who has a home on Clear Lake.
Sandberg said the freeway connections at CR-83 are not constructed for the long-haul and won’t wear well over the winter.
“We don’t see the warrant is there to provide additional access at 83,” MnDOT engineer Adam Josephson said. “It was never considered a permanent solution.”
While the state agency applauds the county’s efforts to improve transportation in Forest Lake, he said that are other access points such as the TH-97 interchange at Columbus – referred to as Quad 35 – that will be a priority in the upcoming years. However, Josephson said that project has not been funded yet.
“We feel access to Forest Lake is adequate,” he said.
Costly Undertaking
Sandberg said the state looks at transportation for the region, and that good projects will get funding. And studying the issue of permanent exit ramps at CR-83 won’t come cheap. A warrant analysis to collect data is between $2,000 and $5,000 with an interchange access request upwards of $200,000 to $500,000.
He said the price tag for a major road project like that can be anywhere from $10 to $15 million.
“Interchanges are expensive,” Sandberg added.
Josephson said there are five criteria to be met for a permanent interchange at CR-83.
County Commissioner Dennis Hegberg said additional access is needed, but it’s just a matter of when the justification is present.
“Maybe the timing hasn’t reached the thresholds of the warrants,” he said.
Councilwoman Susan Young said that might be met if redevelopment occurs in the old industrial park and at Northland Mall, or if the population growth in western Wisconsin continues.
“If our two exits are still backing up, we could see data changing to support it,” she said.
