Item 1. Open Forum Stuart Turnquist HandoutWright County
Highway Department
3600 Braddock Ave NE
Buffalo, MN 55313
Ph:(763)682-7383
Fax:(763)682-7313
Hi n neer
CHAD HAUSMANN, P.E.
Assistant Highway Engr.
STEVE MEYER
Maintenance
Superintendent
JEREMY CARLSON, P.L.S.
Right -of -Way Agent
SARA BUERMANN, P.E.
Traffic Engineer
Nov zo { q
RE: CSAH 39 Safety Project (Two -Way Center Left Turn Lane)
Wright County recently completed a safety improvement project along the CSAH 39 corridor from
Hart Blvd in Monticello to O'Dean Ave NE in Otsego. This roadway was identified in the County's
Road Safety Plan as high priority due to a crash rate of nearly three (3) times higher than the state
average for this type of facility. The high prevalence of rear -end collisions combined with the high
density of driveways along the corridor led to the interim solution of the new pavement markings.
The roadway is now restriped to include a continuous two-way center left -turn lane (TWLTL), which
will provide spatial separation between opposing lanes of traffic, reducing head-on and sideswipe
collisions. In addition, due to the density of driveways, the TWLTL will also remove left -turning
vehicles from the through lane; improving flow, road efficiency and reducing rear -end collisions.
This lane is for the exclusive use of left turning
vehicles in either direction. It shall not be used
for passing or travel by a driver except to make a
leittur n. Tvo`ionger ailowtng passing on n, is
roadway is a change, however, due to the high
volume of traffic, passing on this two-lane
highway was challenging and risky with the few
gaps in oncoming traffic. The difference in travel
time along the corridor between a vehicle going
60 mph and a vehicle going 50 mph is 2 minutes.
If 2 minutes is relevant to your arrival time, then
make allowance for that possible additional
travel time to your destination.
LEFT TURN LANE
® e LEFT NRN LANE ONLY
The only time a vehicle should enter the center lane is at a point where the
vehicle YAH have time to slow down or stop in order to make a safe left turn
maneuver. The tender lane should never be used for passing or as a through
traffic lane.
On occasion, drivers will encounter other types of slow -moving vehicles such as mail carriers,
garbage trucks, right -turning traffic, farm equipment or even stopped vehicles such as law
enforcement or highway maintenance staff. These vehicles will mostly be on the shoulder but will
partially take up the travel lane. In these cases, vehicles in the travel lane will need to slow down
and maneuver around the slower vehicle when it safe to do so. This is a common occurrence on
county highways with no shoulder.
The new pavement markings did reduce the shoulder width, it now varies between 4-5 feet (with an
additional foot or two gravel shoulder). The shoulder is not a bike or pedestrian path; however,
bikes and pedestrians may use the shoulder of the highway. The corridor is designated as
Mississippi River Trail, much of this route follows roadways used by motor vehicles and many of
those roadways have no shoulder. The corridor is signed due to its proximity to the Mississippi River
and there are no requirements to maintain widths of the roadway shoulder specific to bicycles or
pedestrians.
The Wright County Parks and Recreation Department, in partnership with the cities of Clearwater,
Monticello, and Otsego, is working on a master plan for the proposed Great River Regional Trail,
which follows this corridor. The trail is envisioned as an off -road, paved, non -motorized destination
trail for walking, running, bicycling, and inline skating. The trail is a long-term vision. To learn more
about this effort, visit the project web site or contact the Parks and Recreation Department at
ParksandRecreation@co.wright.mn.us.
The long-term plan for this corridor is that it will become a four -lane highway between Monticello
and Otsego, however, due to lack of adequate transportation funding, the four -lane project will
likely not happen for 10-15 years or more.
If there are any questions, please contact the Highway Dept. at 763-682-7383 or Email
Chad Hausmann, Assistant Highway Engineer, chad.hausmann@co.wright.mn.us
Sara Buermann, Traffic Engineer, sara.buermann@co.wright.mn.us
An Equal Opportunity Employer