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A more excessive Excess Project !
published 01.29.03
online at http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/3620225.html
Additional work recommended for Lake St./I-35W
project
by Steve Brandt
Star Tribune
An engineering firm has urged an additional $10 million to $25
million in road and bridge work to accommodate the $153 million
Lake Street freeway-access project in Minneapolis.
The recommended work would double the capacity of a ramp that carries
traffic from northbound Interstate Hwy. 35W to westbound Interstate
Hwy. 94 just south of downtown. Clearing that interchange more quickly
would make it easier for drivers entering northbound I-35W at a
new ramp from Lake Street to quickly merge across two lanes of traffic
to connect with westbound I-94.
Also recommended was the addition of an auxiliary lane on I-94
west of the interchange, where congestion already exists.
The changes would cost an estimated $10 million. But the auxiliary
lane on I-94 could drive the total up to $25 million, depending
on how far west it would be extended and how many freeway bridges
would be modified as a result.
Scott McBride, who works for a consulting firm hired by Hennepin
County, made his recommendations Tuesday during a meeting of the
business and neighborhood representatives advising the county on
the Lake Street project. Some members expressed surprise at the
potential for added spending.
Last fall the group voted by a wide margin to recommend an access
project that would increase the number of freeway ramps in the Lake
Street area to five (there are currently two). But project managers
expressed concern that state transportation officials might install
a barrier to prevent traffic entering at Lake Street from merging
across northbound I-35W to reach westbound I-94.
At peak hours, traffic waiting to enter the westbound I-94 ramp
already backs up on the shoulder. McBride said that a new Lake Street
ramp wouldn't increase the amount of traffic but that drivers would
have a shorter distance to make their crossover than they do now.
Currently, the nearest northbound entrance to I-35W is at 35th Street,
five blocks south of Lake.
The advisory committee took no action but is scheduled to meet
again on Feb. 25. The preliminary design for the overall project
still must be approved by several levels of government.
-- Steve Brandt is at sbrandt@startribune.com or 612-673-4438.
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