[Winona Online Democracy]
Title: Report on Pelzer
Thanks to everybody that contributed on the Pelzer Question from
City Manager.
Here's a summary.
WOD Ideas on Pelzer
Street
On Wednesday
Feb 25, the City Manager posed a question to WOD regarding the closing
of Pelzer Street and the possible alternate routes for
detours.
During this exchange there were two posts from Sorensen and two from
City Engineer , Steve Mc Burney and 19 posts from 14 different Winona
citizens with 12 individuals making single posts and 2 individuals
making 4 and 3 posts respectively. Four posts related to a
consideration not posed, using 44th and not Pelzer Street. The
City's web site helped WOD subscribers envision the proposed
routes.
The comments are sorted in the following categories:
-suggestions on routes(4)
-general suggestions(3)
-observations(1)
-cautions(4)- most concern was for safety on Huff
-questions(4)
-off point comments(4)
-final note(1)
For a full view of all posts in this Thread on Pelzer Street go to
www.onlinedemocracy.org and click on Archives.
Charge to
Winona Online Democracy form City Manager
Winona On-Line Democracy participants have sought meaningful community
discussion and participation for some time. I offer the topic of
traffic flow consideration(s) as will be affected by the closing of
Pelzer Street for approximately three months for bridge construction
in 2006. We have the time to evaluate route alternatives and their
respective impacts on the community
before any concrete decisions are made. We look forward to your
constructive comments and insights, as your participation in this
dialogue is encouraged.
Hopefully, we (all of us who participate in WOD) will be heard. A link
to the City's web site www.cityofwinona-mn.com is included for
participants. A specific map of the existing truck routes will be
posted there. Steve McBurney, City Engineer, will help to respond to
questions. Ideally, the result will be a
well thought out traffic plan that the community has truly helped
create. If this process works, the City will put more topics out for
your consideration.
Eric B. Sorensen, City Manager
Suggestions
on Routes:
-Mankato- Second Ave
-old Hwy 61 for Minnesota City Into town.
-"as a practical matter; don�t we have to use all other
alternatives while Pelzer is closed? Trucks coming
into Winona from Hwy 61 North or 14 West headed for destinations on
Theurer Blvd or River View should use County 54(54th in Goodview) or
County 32. Those servicing business on 2nd and 3rd St west
of
Huff should continue to use Gilmore to Cummings to Fifth to Ben to
Third.
Coming in to either of these commerical areas from Mankato seems like
a hassle unless on is servicing businesses east of Huff.
-Mankato to Broadway instead of following Sarnia which is
current Hwy 43.
General Suggestions:
-many turning accidents on narrow streets and tight corners�could
intersections
be improved so avoid hazards like corner light poles?
-will bike lanes be considered on Pelzer overpass
-maybe a temporary rail yard crossing could be established
between the city
garage and the barge harbor if grain traffic would warrant
Observations:
-Most grain haulers will come in on 14 rather than 43 jumping off
I 90 at Lewiston
Cautions:
-How many pedestrians would be killed with traffic on Huff (Sarnia to
Broadway),
lots of foot traffic on Huff with many, many jaywalkers; is it an
invitation to accidents(disaster waiting to happen). NO route devoid
of problems, but in my opinion any other would be better than the Huff
route.
-trucks fly down street on Sarnia in approaching Main St.
-using bike lanes to pass on right is a concern
-A truck route on Huff tarnishes rather striking gateway to City
between
Lakes.
Questions:
-Can Huff support the tonnage and not destroy the
infrastructure?
-Are there
streets such as Mankato that can't take additional
traffic?
-What's the City of Goodview doing in considering street work over
this time period and how might this compound traffic flow
problems?
-Has anyone looked at big picture of what it will all look like
when we are all done?
Off point
comments:
- Proposing a 44th Ave rather than Pelzer route( evoked
comments from 4 participants)
Final
Note.-
it's always nice to have one's opinion on these things taken into
consideration, and our city engineer has been a good sport to have put
up with us WODS sticking our nose in his business.
Information
from City Engr- Steve Mc Burney.
There are two detours proposed. The primary detour would direct
traffic west on Highway 61 to 54th Avenue to Theurer Boulevard.
This detour would be in place during the entire reconstruction of
Pelzer Street in 2005 and 2006. During the summer of 2006, the
connection of Theurer Boulevard to Riverview Drive will be
under construction. During this period a second detour is
required to direct traffic to the commercial harbor.
Mankato Avenue to 2nd Street would work as a detour. Because
truckers will typically take the most direct route to their
destination, Huff Street was chosen as the secondary detour.
Gilmore/Cummings/5th St/McBride/2nd Street would, also, work as
a detour. This is a less desirable route because of the
number of turning movements. The use of Huff Street as the
secondary detour is not for certain. Huff Street was our initial
choice based on limited turning movements and it provided the
shortest/direct route. We will consider all alternatives
suggested. Any route chosen will need to accommodate a 9-ton
axle
load.
Please keep discussions to the pros and cons of detour routes for
Pelzer Street.
These detours will be temporary, and will increase traffic on
the route chosen. If you have questions or comments on any other
aspects of the Pelzer Street Project, please visit the project web
site. There is a link to the project site on the City web site
(www.cityofwinona-mn.com).
Trucks coming
from Highway 43 and 61 south are currently using east end truck
routes. The proposed detours are not necessarily the final
detour routes. The final detour routes will be decided later
this year. The decisions will be based on directness, number of
turning movements, street capacity, etc.
--
Randy Schenkat 1358 Skyline Dr. Winona, Mn
55987 507-452-7168
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