HIGHWAY 371 KEY ISSUES -- ARE YOU READY FOR MNDOT PLANS?Tom MacGibbon recently talked to the new project manager for the Highyway 371 expansion project and learned some disturbing facts about MnDOT plans or lack thereof. Please make your opinions known to MNDOT.
Tom sent CLA the following comments.
The new project manager is:
Tim V. Bray, P.E.
Project Manager
District 3 Project Development Unit
Mail Stop 030
7694 Industrial Park Road
Baxter, MN 56425
Tel: 218 828 2732
Fax: 218 828 6105
email: timothy.bray@dot.state.mn.us
The key issues in my opinion for the CLA include:
1) Run off control - The completed project will more than double the paved surface area adjacent to the lake. The MnDOT plan doesn't include managing the run off to protect the lakes or the vegetation. Location of displaced wetlands due to the bridging over the ponding /wetlands at County Road 107 is not addressed.
2) MnDOT has no plans for noise abatement - the highway designs are for 70 MPH speed - and higher traffic volume. These will have dramatic impact on noise particularly the dwell time, which will impact the quality of Lower Cullen Lake. The preferred noise abatement are earth berms. There will be a significant amount of displaced earth (dirt) which can be effectively used for noise abatement berms between the highway the the lake from the channel to Nisswa lake to County Road 107. There are areas along East Twin Lake where berms are very effective in reducing highway 371 traffic noise.
3) MnDOT has no plans for replanting vegetation to restore and improve both the habitat of the wildlife after construction or the visual impact from the lake.
4) MnDOT has no plans at this time to mitigate damage to the lakes, the vegetation surrounding the lakes and preventing pollution from the earth movers, silt, during the construction of the highway which includes destruction of the existing highway and disposing of the debris.
5) The traffic pattern is requires some property owners on the western shore of Lower Cullen Lake to travel north on the new 371 then make a "U" turn to go south on 371.
This Highway 371 North Project web address might be helpful for the members to remain in contact with the progress of the project.
http://projects.dot.state.mn.us/seh/371/other.html
UPDATED August 17, 2005
