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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976 04-21 Task Force calls for $4.1 million in interim area improvements THE REVIEW 61ce. i 9 _�rt zs: 'eta � T erg _ _.w,xm, g f THE NORTHEAST AREA Task Force has,among other things,recommended that Highway 61) should be designated to freeway status. within the next 20 years Highway 36(pictured above as passes by Keller Lake west of Review photo by John Palmer Cz :1 210 197 Task Force calls for 4.1 million in interim •are improvementsa by Scott Carlson from reaching full development by the described in the ultimate plan. million over a period of 20 years." Some $41.5 million in interim road year 1995.In that case the task force has —Widening White Bear avenue to in- Included in the interim plan are im- improvements for the northeast St.Paulrecommended that the communities dude continuous right turn lanes between provements in the public bus services. suburban area, designed to meet in- consider road improvements under an the south interchange ramps and Beam (They will be focused primarily upon the creasing traffic demands in the upcoming interim plan and later under an ultimate avenue as in the ultimate plan. major diversified center(the Mall) and 20 years, have been recommended by plan,if development pressures warrant —Building medians across the County will be the subject of a news story in next the 21-member Northeast Area Task further constructions and financing is Rd.D and White Bear avenue intersection week's Review.) Force. possible. to prohibit left turns.Right turns:would In preparing their report, task force The task force, which included city Recommended road improvements are still be possible. members sought public input at two representatives from Maplewood, North offered by the task force based on a —Extending Edgewater avenue across general meetings plus a series of local St.Paul, White Bear Lake, Gem Lake, computer analysis of five different traffic the railroad tracks to Highway 61. neighborhood meetings. In recom- Vadnais Heights and Little Canada plus systems. —Construction of County Rd.D,Lydia, mending roadway improvements the task representatives from the Metropolitan MAJOR ELEMENTS OF THE Interim Woodlyn and Ariel as recommended in force:took into consideration such ultimate plan. resident desires as "keeping the im- Commission(MTC),notes that the.road —Highway 61 to be improved to a six provements from intruding or dividing up. improvements will be'needed in the future lane divided arterial roadway between THE TASK FORCE HAS RECOM- residential areas." to relieve traffic congestion along many Highway 36 and County Rd.E. MENDED that the total$61 million in CHAIRMAN OP THE 21-MEMBER major roadways. Installation of traffic signals to improvements could be staged task force was Robert Simon,a former AND IN THE EVENT that full control turn movements along Highway throughout four five-year periods. North St.Paul Councilman. Study coor- development pressures become a reality 61 at County Rd.E,Edgewater extended Immediate road plans would call for ..dinator was Paul Kirkwold. it may be necessary to construct road to Highway 61, both ramps of the in- improvements in the area of the Other task force members include: improvements totalling$68.9 million. terchange at Ni94, Beam avenue,.and Maplewood Mall, intersection i01 H.W. Tousley, Gem Lake; John Han- The task force,which has been working County Rd.C. provements and improvement of Rice naford,Gem Lake; Ray Hanson, Little on its report for nearly two years,was. —Construction of an interchange at I- street on the western boundary of the Canada; Joe Chlebeck, Little Canada; formed by the local municipalities in an 694 and Highway 61,primarily utilizing study area. Robert Collier, Maplewood; Gerald effort to assess traffic projections and the northeast and southeast quadrants of The ultimate plan includes$17.4 million Splinter,North St.Paul. the intersections. Turn moves onto the for roadway widenings. But the task road needs. Also serving were Raymond Henershot, "The Maplewood Mall regional shop- ramps would be controlled by signals, force report notes, "The roadway Vadnais Heights; Steve Gatlin, White ping center could be the nucleus for --Construction of a south"collector- widenings for the ultimate plan...are Bear Lake; Milton Stellmacher, White substantial commercial, industrial and distributor road and ramp system at I-694 projects which might be considered op- Bear Lake; John Greavu, Maplewood; service establishment growth on adjacent and White Bear avenue. tional,since the need for widenings would Floyd Snyker; Ramsey county lands and within its general vicinity," -An extension of either Hazelwood or not result from traffic demands as much engineering; Ghaleb Abdulrahman, Barton-Aschman Associates, the task Kennard street,as recommended in the as from development considerations, Metro Council;Cam Andre,MTC; John force's consultant, note in the report's ultimate plan. parking needs and general roadway Jamieson, MTC, Hugh Faville, MTC, introduction. —Upgrading Highway 36, from High- improvement needs. Perry Plank, Minnesota Highway A combination of financial matters way 61 to Highway 120,to freeway status "Omitting these projects,the total cost Department and Robert Pederson, could prevent the Northeast study area with allowances for interchanges as of implementing the ultimate plan is$51:5 Minnesota Highway Department.