Transportation Advisory Commission Minutes 07/30/2003I-94/CSAH 18 Interchange
Technical Advisory Committee
Monticello, MN
Wednesday, July 30, 2003
Meeting Minutes
1.) Site History
Bret Weiss provided a brief history of this site from the City's perspective. Monticello
desired to have eastbound off and westbound on access to I-94 on the east side of their
community to supplement the existing eastbound on and westbound off at CSAH 75.
Subsequent conversations with MnDOT found that it would be best to consolidate all
movements at CSAH 18. Monticello has had conversations with the concrete plant owner in
the northeast quadrant to determine his willingness to relocate to a site adjacent to T.H. 25.
Developer Ryan Companies is interested in a major commercial development in the
northwest quadrant.
Wayne Fingalson indicated that this project is not currently in either their five (5) year
construction plan or their ten (10) year work plan.
Terry Humbert provided a site history from Mn/DOT's perspective. A four (4) year crash
history (1999 — 2002) for the segment of I-94 between CSAH 18 and the CSAH 75
Entrance/exit ramps showed 21 vehicle off the road rollovers and 35 multi -vehicle crashes.
To reduce this crash rate, MnDOT wishes to reduce the approach grades and flatten the
curves approaching the current railroad overpass. Currently an option to reconstruct 1-94
under the railroad is preferred, but groundwater issues may preclude this option. Piezometers
are being placed in this vicinity to determine the elevation of groundwater. Further
development of an over the railroad option needs to take place. Noise monitoring will take
place this fall to provide current data to be used in development of necessary environmental
documents. FHWA wishes to have one environmental document to cover both the 1-94
reconstruction and the interchange construction. Terry estimates the time frame necessary
for completion of an Environmental Assessment (EA) to be one year. The City's stormwater
plan needs to be considered with this EA. MnDOT District 3 has a policy of not participating
financially in the construction of locally requested interchanges. However, due to cost of
construction savings associated with not rebuilding the CSAH 75 ramps, they are willing to
participate in $1.5 million in construction costs, which approximate these savings. Terry
estimates that the 1-94 reconstruction could be ready for letting in July, 2005 (FY '06) unless
the project is named as a recipient of state bonding dollars. Then it could be advanced to the
spring of 2005 (FY '05).
2.) Proposed Design Layout
A.) Issues Defined:
• Stormwater Drainage
• Meadow Oak neighborhood access
• Access to concrete plant property and determination if property remnant is
developable.
• Utility issues
Primarily sanitary sewer
• CSAH 18 impacts and signal spacing
• Groundwater elevations
• Right-of-way acquisition:
■ City is working with appraiser
■ MnDOT looking to City to take lead in acquiring concrete plant property due
to internal policy and timing.
• Evaluate frontage road construction on north side of I-94 from Gillard Avenue to
CSAH 75
• Impact of Federal ISTEA funds having been used to construct hike/bike path in
Meadow Oaks.
• Other environmental issues
■ Trees in grove south of existing I-94
B.) Options
1. Over or under railroad
2. Existing CSAH 18 bridge over I-94 to remain or be replaced
3.) Schedule
Mainline I-94 construction could begin in calendar year 2005 (either FY ' 05 or ' 06,
depending on funding availability). CSAH 18 work could begin earlier. Need to complete
EA before any construction can begin.
4.) ROW Acquisition
MnDOT and Monticello will work together to determine appropriate cost split for concrete
plant property acquisition. Monticello will take lead in acquiring property. MnDOT will
acquire other property it needs.
5.) Funding
Monticello will attend Wright County Board meeting at 9:00 a.m., August 13, 2003, to
discuss its request that this project be included in its five (5) year construction plan.
A proposed funding model will be prepared and presented at the joint TAC/PAC meeting on
August 13. (MnDOT subsequently designated $8.7 million Fed. AC, and $1 L3 million state
bond funds, totaling $20 million for this project.)
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