Joint Media Release: Sherburne County, City of Big Lake and Big Lake School District Restriping of Eagle Lake Road – Addition of 3 Foot Shoulders Representatives from the City of Big Lake, Big Lake School District, Sherburne County and public safety officials met on Monday August 18, 2014 to discuss the recently restriped portion of Eagle Lake Road. While the general concept of restriping the road to create a three lane section has been deemed an appropriate way to deal with safety issues, concerns have been expressed by some residents that County Road 5 (Eagle Lake Road) now lacks shoulders on the road in terms of safely accessing mailboxes. After significant discussions among the participants based in large part on resident feedback, it was agreed by all parties that this portion of Eagle Lake Road will be restriped again as a three lane section, but will also include shoulders on both sides of the road. Two 12 foot lanes will be created for the northbound and southbound travel lanes. Also, a 12 foot continuous left turn lane will be created in between the two travel lanes. This will leave a three foot shoulder on each side of the road, which will provide a safer access to resident mailboxes. Creating a continuous left turn lane will provide a safer road because it will eliminate drivers from passing on the right (shoulder) since the left turning traffic will have a separate lane for this movement. Congestion on this roadway will be reduced, making it a safer driving experience. Congestion on school traffic will also be reduced because of a change in vehicles exiting school property onto Eagle Lake Road. Left turns will no longer be allowed from school property onto Eagle Lake Road. Right Turn Only signs will be installed and the pavement will be marked with a right turn arrow. While this will require a change in some peoples’ travel routes, this will reduce traffic backup on school property. Pedestrian and bicycle traffic between Martin and Park Ave will continue to be strongly discouraged due to safety concerns. To address the need for pedestrian access along Eagle Lake Road, the Big Lake School District will be offering bus service to students who live directly along Eagle Lake Road between Highway 10 and Park Ave west, to get them safely to school. The city and school district received a Safe Routes to School Planning grant from MNDOT. Together with the community and county, these entities will work with a consultant to fully investigate the best solution for pedestrians/bikers to navigate this stretch of roadway to include the possible construction of a sidewalk. Nobody wants to see an accident occur on this roadway. To help with pedestrian access to school, Sherburne County has been working with the City of Big Lake, and Big Lake School District to construct a paved trail from the northwest portion of school property to Glenwood Avenue before school starts. The addition of three-foot shoulders along Eagle Lake Road will be accomplished by initially seal coating this portion of the roadway to eliminate all previous lines. The seal coat will also improve the road surface until this road is resurfaced in 2016. Once seal coating is complete, restriping will occur. It is the objective to have this work completed as soon as possible, but likely after the start of the school year.
Posted on: Mon, 18 Aug 2014 21:24:35 +0000
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