[0:00] Good morning everybody. Vernon Avenue [0:02] and Highway 100 interchange project [0:04] update meeting number 12. Just a [0:07] reminder that we are recording these and [0:09] we'll post them online afterwards. So [0:12] I'm Chad Milner, engineering director. [0:14] Thanks for joining us. Uh thanks for [0:16] your patience. The project continues to [0:18] move forward. Businesses are open and [0:20] accessible. Of course with construction [0:23] comes noise, dust, and vibrations. Um [0:26] stop for pedestrians and crosswalks. We [0:28] still have uh school started. So, we [0:31] have a lot more people and kids and [0:33] students using Eden Avenue, specifically [0:36] Benton Avenue. There's crosswalks, kids [0:38] going to school. Make sure we're being [0:41] safe, courteous, and not only the [0:43] pedestrians, but also the fellow [0:45] drivers. So, please be patient. If [0:48] you're not comfortable with that midb [0:49] block crossing at uh Eden Avenue, please [0:53] use the fully controlled traffic signal [0:55] at Vernon and Eden instead. [0:59] These are the project goals. Um again, [1:02] it's to improve safety, mobility, create [1:05] separated pedestrian routes, improve [1:07] traffic operations, [1:09] and the other ones there listed. We have [1:12] the project schedule listed there. The [1:14] com substantial completion date and [1:17] reopening November 15, 2025. Um I can [1:21] say that [1:23] good good portion of the project will be [1:25] reopened, but uh the Vernon Avenue [1:27] bridge will not be done by November [1:29] 15th. So that's an issue we'll talk [1:31] about here a little bit more. [1:34] This is the project again. It starts [1:36] just west of Interlockan Boulevard. has [1:38] the Vernon Avenue Bridge over the CPKC [1:41] rail line. Then the Highway 100 bridge [1:44] over Highway 100 that spans [1:47] uh carries 50th Street and Vernon Avenue [1:52] and then ends just near Graange Road on [1:54] the east side. [1:57] We've been doing all these communication [1:59] channels for residents and businesses. [2:02] uh continue to look for those, continue [2:04] to push out that information. If people [2:06] have questions, better together.org, [2:10] visit the Vernon Highway 100 project [2:12] page. That is your best spot to find [2:15] information as we continue to move [2:18] forward this fall. [2:21] We have some big detours coming, so [2:22] we're creating a special business [2:26] outreach. So we want anybody that's [2:28] associated with businesses to please [2:30] fill out a survey. So go to this website [2:33] edinaamn.gov [2:36] businessup support and fill out the [2:39] survey if you interested. But we are [2:41] going to support the Grand View and 50th [2:43] and France businesses this fall. We're [2:45] going to have the worth the detour [2:47] passport. So, it'll be a loyalty program [2:50] where customers can collect stamps when [2:52] you shop and dine at participating [2:55] businesses and then enter to win gift [2:56] cards at those favorite local spots. We [3:00] want to thank the Explory Dina for their [3:03] support. [3:04] So, there's also going to be a [3:06] restaurant week social media contest and [3:09] a free familyfriendly movie on select [3:13] Saturday mornings at the Dina Theater. [3:15] So again, find all the details at better [3:18] together.org. And if you're a specific [3:20] business, go to that other website and [3:22] fill out a survey. We did mail out [3:24] letters to many of the businesses in [3:27] both the Grand View and the 50th in [3:29] France districts. So thank you and [3:32] please fill out the survey. [3:35] Construction details, uh, Interlock and [3:37] Verdon, that's still a free flow [3:39] intersection there. It's working and [3:41] operating. We've got questions of can we [3:44] open up Gus Young Lane by the Dino [3:46] Liquor Store. We're hoping to have a [3:48] crane there at any moment to start [3:50] working on that west abutment. We did [3:52] open it. We'd have to have either a [3:54] four-way stop or a temporary signal. Um, [3:58] and that would really, I think, impact [4:00] traffic operations on this intersection. [4:02] So unless we learn something that this [4:04] is going to be a much longer closure, at [4:08] this point we're going to leave it as is [4:10] and prepare to place a crane and other [4:12] equipment there to work on that west [4:14] abutment. [4:17] And why aren't we working on that west [4:19] abupment? It's because the XL power line [4:21] was as shown here and circled in green [4:24] was in a different spot than originally [4:27] uh thought. was hit in May and Excel [4:31] Energy and TPKC Rail are continue to [4:35] work on permits and agreements. We do [4:36] not have it. They're working on it. I [4:38] thought it would be done early to mid [4:40] August. We have no control over these [4:43] two agencies. Uh and it's major impact [4:46] of schedule andor cost. and we still [4:48] don't know what those are because until [4:50] we actually get a permit and the [4:52] contractor can start working. We can't [4:55] put together any of those timing details [4:57] or cost potential details. So, we're [5:01] just in a waiting pattern. We're all [5:03] contacting them. The mayor's contacting [5:05] individuals. We're trying to get this [5:07] move forward. um should have been [5:10] corrected long time ago in my opinion [5:12] and it's not and we're doing everything [5:14] we can but this bridge will not be done [5:16] November 15th. Uh we're just past that [5:19] timing now. So until we know when this [5:21] work can occur, updated schedules won't [5:25] be developed. There's kind of [5:27] potentially two options where they work [5:30] uh straight through into the winter and [5:33] heat and heat everything to do the [5:35] concrete work, but there's a cost with [5:37] that. order they go away and come back [5:38] in the spring to finish. So, those are [5:41] the two options we're looking at once we [5:43] know when they can actually start. [5:47] Road closures and detours. We have a big [5:49] kind of the last detour stage four [5:53] coming up. This is probably going to be [5:54] the most impactful. Um and it's going to [5:58] start on Monday, September 15th. So, all [6:01] offramps [6:03] are going to be closed on the 15th. [6:08] So, if you're coming southbound on 100 [6:10] and use that Arcadia exit, that will be [6:12] closed. That'll be a new closure. You're [6:15] heading northbound and you take the exit [6:17] to Graange Road, that will be closed. [6:20] So, these three red X's will be new [6:23] closures. The blue one was already been [6:25] in place for a few weeks. We're updating [6:28] our maps on the website and the [6:29] interactive GIS map. Those will be [6:31] updated soon. Um, but that's a big [6:36] impact that's going to start September [6:38] 15th and until until the mid- November [6:42] date so they can build all these new [6:43] ramps. [6:45] What has been happening and will [6:46] continue to happen this week is the [6:48] Highway 100 bridge uh the gurners are [6:50] going up the beams. So this first week [6:52] of September been happening overnight. [6:55] Northbound happened [6:58] Tuesday and Wednesday night. Now [7:00] southbound will happen Thursday and [7:02] Friday night. So hopefully all the beams [7:04] will be placed uh by this weekend. [7:10] Uh again, we're going to create those [7:12] detour maps for that stage four, but [7:14] Benton Avenue, we've seen more traffic. [7:15] We know the schools started Mindat [7:18] turned the timing off on the on-ramp [7:20] signal, so that helped a lot with some [7:22] of those impacts. Uh the detours are [7:24] going to be up to Excelsier and east and [7:27] west down the highway 62 in east and [7:30] west kind of the regional detours and [7:32] there's going to be some more local [7:33] detours. So look for those maps coming [7:35] very soon on that stage 4 which starts [7:38] in about a week and a half. [7:41] We know there's a project going on [7:43] Highway 100. This is a mindot [7:44] maintenance project. They're doing [7:46] overhead sign work. Um they closed the [7:49] inside lanes. It's been closed for [7:51] weeks. It's creating traffic issues. [7:54] We ask when they're going to be done. It [7:56] was anticipated to be done yesterday. I [7:58] can't find anything whether it is or [8:00] isn't done. Go to their website and that [8:03] website hasn't been updated until August [8:05] 12th. So, I haven't driven up there [8:07] today. I don't know if it's closed or [8:09] still underway. I'm hoping it's done um [8:12] because that was creating some issues, [8:14] but again, that's not related to our [8:16] project at all. Um the timing is just [8:19] unfortunate and MDOT's doing their [8:21] maintenance work there on those overhead [8:23] signs. [8:26] Other things in the area. So 5100 even [8:29] Eden Avenue. This was a development [8:31] project. Last time or last couple [8:33] meetings we talked about the sidewalk [8:35] detour that's shown on the lefthand [8:37] side. They built a temporary sidewalk on [8:39] the west side of Arcadia and closed the [8:41] sidewalk starting at the historic [8:43] properties on the east side of Highway [8:45] 100. The blue dash line is that detour [8:48] for the sidewalks. They started demo on [8:51] Tuesday. So, here's a picture where [8:52] they're starting to bring that building [8:54] down. That work has started this week to [8:58] demo that existing 5100 building. [9:03] In other pictures, uh this is the you're [9:06] looking east [9:08] by the Devanis. This is the Vernon [9:10] Avenue bridge. You can see the east [9:12] abupman is done and ready. Here's that [9:15] west side. The old one is still in [9:16] place. So that's a Excel power line and [9:18] we're just waiting for that. So uh this [9:21] is the major concern right now with [9:23] schedule. This is a updated picture of [9:26] that area. [9:28] This is that free flowing intersection [9:30] at Interlockan in Vernon that stays the [9:32] same. [9:34] This is the retaining wall at Hawthorne [9:36] Court near the Hawthorne Apartment. So [9:38] the picture on the left was from a few [9:40] weeks ago. Picture on the right was a [9:42] recent picture from this week. So, the [9:44] wall construction keeps going forward. [9:48] And then the overnight work that [9:50] started, these are pictures from Tuesday [9:52] night. So, uh, the left picture is, it's [9:55] hard to see, but the crane is hoisting [9:57] up those beams. This was the first one. [10:00] Middle bottom picture is it's almost in [10:03] place. And then a closeup of as they [10:05] literally touch that down onto the [10:07] abupments uh for that first first beam [10:11] on Tuesday night. [10:13] And then picture on the left is number [10:15] two coming into place. You can see how [10:17] they were hoisting that up with the [10:18] crane in the background. [10:20] Some other pictures where there's almost [10:22] eight of them in place that night. So [10:24] you can see the different all of them [10:27] spanning northbound 100. [10:32] And here's how they brought them in. [10:33] They brought them in with a big long [10:34] truck. The crane picks them off and then [10:38] places them onto those abupments. So, [10:42] northbound should be done. I haven't [10:43] heard here this morning. Southbound, [10:46] it's going to happen tonight, tomorrow [10:47] night. [10:50] Then here's what it looks like during [10:51] the day. So, the picture on the left is [10:53] those first eight placed on Tuesday [10:56] night. And then the picture on the right [10:59] is just a different view of showing [11:00] those in place. And it's good to see [11:03] shadows on the highway. That means the [11:04] deck is starting to be constructed. [11:09] The other major thing that's going on is [11:10] that noise wall along the [11:13] northbound on-ramp from 50th Street. So [11:16] the picture on the left was from a few [11:17] weeks ago. They were just getting [11:18] started. Picture on the right, you can [11:20] see all those concrete posts that are [11:22] going to support that noise wall [11:24] basically from Miniha Creek up to 50th [11:26] Street. So they are continuing to put [11:29] the poles in and then the planking will [11:30] be coming in a few weeks and they'll [11:33] start installing the planking on that [11:35] noise wall. [11:38] And then just another picture of the [11:39] operations of installing those concrete [11:42] noise wall posts. [11:46] And then the graphics and rendering of [11:47] what this will look like. So it's [11:49] getting closer and closer all the time. [11:51] You're getting to this for the high 100 [11:52] bridge. The picture on the left is a [11:54] view of the of the deck of the Highway [11:57] 100 bridge. The picture on the right is [12:00] from the Highway 100 itself. as you [12:03] would pass underneath the bridge heading [12:04] northbound. You can start to see the [12:06] beams that were placed the other night. [12:08] Um, and this will be completely placed [12:11] here over the next couple nights. So, [12:12] we're starting to get to this image for [12:14] the project. [12:19] So, with that, I'll look at the chat. If [12:21] people have questions, please enter them [12:24] into the chat. I'm happy to answer those [12:26] questions. You can always call me and [12:28] email me or Derek. We're happy to answer [12:30] questions, come visit with you, whatever [12:32] the case may be. So, any questions? [12:37] And I just remind any of the businesses [12:40] if there's interest in participating in [12:42] that worth the detour passport thing, [12:45] may remember to fill out that survey [12:48] so we know you're interested and we'll [12:50] work with communications and get that [12:52] started. [12:57] Any questions? [13:08] quiet group. [13:10] See somebody type typing. So just wait a [13:13] second. [13:27] Uh looked like somebody was typing. [13:28] Maybe not. Oh, look like it might be [13:30] coming back. [13:34] Uh even though let's see here's a [13:36] question. Crane on Gus Young will wait [13:40] and to agree then work will begin on the [13:43] western abupment. Yeah, we no work can [13:45] start. I mean, if we could have started, [13:46] we would have had Excel move that line [13:48] and we asked them to do it in May, just [13:50] temporarily do something, but railroad [13:53] wouldn't let them do it, and they [13:54] weren't willing to work without a permit [13:56] in the railroad. So, yeah, Gus Young [13:58] will be for crane and other heavy [14:00] equipment to build that western abupment [14:02] soon as that permit is in hand between [14:05] those two parties. Um, [14:14] and even though that bridge may not be [14:17] ready by November 15th, our intention is [14:19] still to open up the Highway 100 bridge, [14:22] the on andoff ramps there, the get [14:24] everything active and operational along [14:26] Highway 100 and open up as much as we [14:28] can, [14:30] as soon as we can. And then we'll deal [14:32] with the Vernon Avenue Bridge and those [14:34] schedules and that impact once we've [14:37] finally learn more here between Excel [14:39] and the railroad. [14:46] Other questions, [14:49] comments? [14:53] Visit the website. We'll be updating [14:54] some maps. Every time we do a big stage [14:56] detour change, we send out specific maps [15:00] to the businesses right at the area [15:04] there. So, look for some of those emails [15:05] coming from me. All those maps are [15:07] posted on the website if other [15:08] businesses just want to print those and [15:10] give them to customers. Um, look for [15:12] that passport program that we're [15:15] creating right now for the businesses in [15:17] both districts, Grand View and 50th in [15:20] France. [15:21] Um, but September 15th, it's going to be [15:24] a big day when those ramps close early [15:27] in the morning. People are going to have [15:29] to find different routes to access this [15:31] area. Benton Avenue will still have [15:33] those the one off-ramp for southbound [15:37] and on-ramp for northbound. [15:40] But to get into these areas, you're [15:41] going to have to come from Highway 62 [15:43] and either use the Valley View exit, [15:46] France Avenue, or on the west side, [15:48] Tracy Avenue or Gleon. Um on the north, [15:52] Excelsier Boulevard coming down Wooddale [15:55] or Brookside. So you're just going to [15:57] have to use some other avenues. Blake [15:59] Road and Interlockan from Hopkins is an [16:01] option. [16:05] So let your employees and customers and [16:07] yourself find some routes there for [16:10] September 15th. [16:17] Other questions? I see somebody typing. [16:21] Why wouldn't we open Gus Young until we [16:22] have some kind of timing? Because we'd [16:24] have to install a temporary signal andor [16:28] four-way stops. And we think that would [16:30] really gnarly up traffic even worse when [16:34] we know that the hope is that there's a [16:36] crane there very soon. So if it starts [16:39] to become more long-term, then we'll [16:41] look at potentially opening up Gus [16:43] Young. But at this point, our hope and [16:46] intention and the draft language we got [16:48] from those two pe two agencies is that [16:50] this is going to have a permit any day [16:53] now. So um so it comes to [16:58] construction needs for space and traffic [17:01] operations of that intersection. [17:04] Thanks for the question. [17:12] Okay, again my info is on the website. [17:16] There's further questions just send me [17:17] an email or give me a call. Appreciate [17:20] everybody's time. We'll get this posted [17:22] and we'll post the slides on the website [17:24] if you want to share that out with [17:25] anybody at your organization. [17:29] Thank you.