4.0. SR 08-20-2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Visit us on the web at www. HomeTownSource.com Council delays capping CSAH 13 by Jim Boyle Staff writer The Elk Ri~}er City Council voted 3-2 Monday night to delay plans to close County State Aid Highway 13 when the new CSAH 13 and its ex"tension to Highway 10 opens. Residents voiced their opposi- tion to the plan at a June 19 meeting and more than a dozen citizens returned to hear the .council's decision this week.. Mayor Stephanie Klinzing and council members Larry Farber and Paul Motin voted to delay plans to cap the county road with a cul-de-sac. Instead of capping the road, the council .... ;rected staff to have the road "into the the new County Road 13 (Tyler Street)· It will cost an 'extra $60,000. Council members Daryl -Thompson and John Dietz voted 'to against the measure. They sided with City Engineer Terry Maurer, vcho strongly urged the council tb continue on with plans to cap ~he mad after lay- zng out a variety of reasons for his recommendation. Chief among Maurer's conk cerns is safety and the effect the the roadway will have on traffic movements on County Road 12 between old County Road 13 and Highway 169, where a six- lane intersection will be installed at the Main Street and Highway 169 crossing. 'Maurer is particularly concerned about the short cutting he expects to come through the former Northbound Liquor site. · This section of County Road 12 zs expected to have 17,000 cars on it per day, Maurer said. Paul Motin said he thinks the id should be capped someday, .c not now. He suggested wait- ing until 193rd Avenue is extended to Tyler Street, which will provide an alternative east- west connection between Tyler and, Highway 169 (193rd The above map shows where the cul-de-sac on County Road .13 was proposed. Residents objected and a 3-2 council majority vOted to delay capping the road. So instead of construct- POTENTIAL GEORGE DESCHENE BUILDING SITE Avenue is situated between Coborn's and Time Out Bar and Restaurant).. Mayor Stephanie Klinzing agreed with Motin. The majority Said use of the new county road would provide relief, and preVent traffic from heading north to less desirable alternatives like 197th Avenue, County Road 91 and County Road 33 to get to Highway 169. Meanwhile, residents would still have the option to use a shorter route to get to business- es along Highway 169. Thompson said the plan to install the cul-de-sac was done out of a concern for safety. Members of the audience chid- ed him, saying he must not drive on the east side. of Highway 169. built this year. Maurer says the the construc- tion of a cul-de-sac on CSAH 13 would force traffic to travel one- half mile out of the way. He said leaving the road open would not be worth the conflicts and con- fusion it would add to the inter- section of Main Street and Highway 169. Residents argued at open mike at the June 12 council meeting that leaving it open would not draw a parade oftraf- ftc, but allow locals the opportu- nity not to have go through the future home of a lighted inter- section at County Road 12 and the new County Road 13. A crowd had turned out to make this and other points related to east-side traffic con- cerns. People also expressed concern about the lack of east- lng a cul-de-sac, city staff has been directed to have old County Road 13 "T" into the new County Road 13 (Tyler Street) scheduled to be (Map courtesy of city of Elk River) west roadways. One suggested School Street be extended to the east through the Elk Hills housing develop- ment. People also expressed concern over'heavy trucks and increased trafSc using 197th Avenue north of Menards to get to the job site and homes. They called for restrictions on this and other roads. Maurer said someday 193rd Avenue, where Hillside Estates is being developed, will "be extended to the east with a wide, urban-style road. How far out is unknown, however, because Hillside Estates is still developing and there is a 40- acre parcel not slated to be developed at this time.