[0:00] Okay, we'll get started. But we're here [0:02] for the Vernon Avenue Highway 100 [0:03] interchange project. This is update [0:05] meeting number 10, August 7th, 2025. [0:10] Again, thanks for the patience. Uh [0:12] businesses, again, a reminder, they're [0:14] open and accessible. There's routes to [0:16] get to them. We have all the [0:18] construction related stuff, noise, dust, [0:19] vibrations. [0:21] Uh please stop for those pedestrians in [0:23] the crosswalks. Be courteous to fellow [0:25] drivers in the roundabouts. Truck is [0:28] heavy. Uh so please take your time and [0:31] again if you're not comfortable using [0:33] that midblock crossing Eden we would [0:35] recommend using the crosswalk at Vernon [0:37] in Eden instead of the fully signaled uh [0:42] intersection there of the crosswalk. [0:46] Yeah, we always share the project goals. [0:49] Uh we're here to improve safety and [0:50] mobility of all users, improve traffic [0:53] operations, create those pedestrian [0:55] separated pedestrian routes, and improve [0:58] connectivity in the area. Uh we'll talk [1:00] a little bit about schedule here uh as [1:03] we go through the presentation today. [1:06] And this is the project starts west of [1:08] Interlockan Boulevard. We have the [1:10] Vernon Avenue bridge over CP Rail, [1:13] Casey, CP Casey Rail, and then we have [1:16] the bridge over Highway 100. This is the [1:18] project and the interchange at 100 is [1:21] called a tight diamond interchange. [1:25] Lots of ways to communicate. We have [1:27] this bi-weekly meeting every other week [1:31] 11 a.m. Thursdays. We have a better [1:33] together website betterto [1:35] togetherdina.org/veron-hwy00. [1:42] We also been doing press releases, [1:43] Friday reports, email updates. Uh people [1:46] were signing up for those when the [1:47] project started. Direct mailers, lots [1:50] and lots of different ways to [1:51] communicate with both people in the [1:54] area, traveling in the area, businesses, [1:56] and a lot of information posted to the [1:58] website. So if you're looking for more [1:59] info, check out the website. If you [2:02] haven't signed up for emails, do we also [2:07] some specific details of where the [2:09] project is at this point. So, if we [2:11] start at the Vernon interlocking [2:13] intersection, uh that is and continues [2:16] to be free flowing. There's no signal [2:18] there today. Uh Gus Young is still [2:21] closed by Dina Liquor Store. Most of the [2:24] work is complete or will be complete [2:26] this week, next week. Then they'll be [2:28] shifting traffic back to the west [2:32] here, the corner, kind of what I have [2:33] drawn here. and they'll continue to be [2:36] free flowing there as long as they need [2:38] it to complete the rest of the work to [2:41] the east of this intersection. [2:44] So, look for some slight changes there [2:46] as they wrap up this work in the next [2:47] week or so. [2:50] Uh the power line, we've talked about [2:52] this for at least 6 weeks, I believe. [2:55] So, the Excel power line is horizontally [2:57] and vertically different in the field [2:59] than what we thought. Uh it was shown on [3:02] the plans. It was struck and repaired. [3:05] There's no agreements. Uh both parties [3:07] are working on permits and agreements. [3:09] There has been no [3:12] construction movement on this. So what [3:14] you see in the picture is still today. [3:16] Uh that concrete is from the old bridge. [3:20] Uh I'm having major concerns, major [3:23] impacts to schedule and cost are coming [3:25] and we don't even know what that is yet [3:27] until we can actually get Excel and CP [3:29] to get a permit to move this stuff [3:32] around. So, [3:34] uh, I'm very concerned on how this is [3:37] going to impact the entire project cuz [3:39] this has been 3 months and it's still [3:41] sitting in the same spot. [3:44] Um, and neither agency was willing to do [3:46] any kind of temporary moves and stuff [3:47] like that. So, more to come on this when [3:50] we actually know [3:52] when the permits will be done, when the [3:54] contractor could potentially assist with [3:56] some of the work. Once we know that, [4:00] then we can actually put together some [4:02] contractor could put together some [4:03] schedules and some potential cost [4:07] implications to the project. [4:11] Uh last week on Monday, July 28th, the [4:14] northbound on-ramp from 50th Street was [4:17] closed. It's closed until the fall so [4:20] they can build the ramp, realignment of [4:22] the ramps and the noise wall from [4:24] Minihana Creek up to 50th. And again, [4:26] there's GIS mapping. There's a link [4:28] there that shows the different mapping [4:31] for the detours. One is along Highway [4:34] 100. You would exit on eastbound 62 and [4:37] then stay and exit right away again to [4:40] northbound 100. The other detour is the [4:42] local frontage roads on each side of 100 [4:44] down to Benton Heaven. [4:48] So, we know Benton Avenue shown here is [4:51] experiencing more traffic. There's more [4:53] delays at that location. We have been [4:56] working with MDOT. They did ret time the [4:58] on-ramp signals for that northbound [5:00] exit. We'll continue to look at that, [5:03] work with MDOT, but just know that [5:06] Benton Avenue is has had a big increase [5:09] in traffic and it's going to get worse. [5:12] School starts August 25th. So, we got [5:15] the Dina schools right at this location [5:16] and we have OG on Eden and Arcadia area. [5:20] So, in a couple weeks, we're going to [5:22] have all the school traffic back at both [5:24] these locations. [5:27] What's coming up? Uh, at some point, we [5:29] need to do the stage 3A part two, which [5:32] is the westbound ramps or the southbound [5:36] off-ramps. [5:37] Sometime in September. We don't have a [5:39] hard date yet. Um, sometimes in [5:42] September, that is going to close. And [5:44] then we also need to do stage 3B, which [5:47] is the northbound [5:51] exit to Graange. They have to build that [5:54] ramp there, too. So, that one will need [5:56] to change. So, we have two ramp closures [5:59] still to conduct sometime in September [6:03] when we know those dates. We'll be [6:04] sharing those out. Um, so Benton Avenue [6:07] will get worse with those closures also. [6:09] So, it is going to get [6:12] worse before it gets better from a [6:14] traffic standpoint within this area. [6:17] Uh some cool things, the bridge is going [6:19] to start to really take shape for the [6:21] first week of September. If everything [6:23] goes according to schedule, the gerters [6:25] are going to show up overnights. [6:27] Uh two nights for northbound, two nights [6:30] for southbound, placing those girders uh [6:33] over the highway. So that's really going [6:35] to start to take shape that Highway 100 [6:36] bridge is moving forward very nicely. [6:42] Another thing that's going to start to [6:43] impact stuff is the 5100 Even Eden [6:46] Avenue. It was a development project [6:48] approved by the city council. They are [6:51] going to start work uh some temporary [6:53] work starting August 18th. So, as shown [6:56] in this graphic, uh they're going to [6:58] build a temporary sidewalk along the [7:01] west side of Arcadia Avenue from just [7:04] north of the roundabout at Arcadia and [7:06] Eden up to the crosswalk [7:09] near the Vernon shops. During this work, [7:12] the parking will be removed along the [7:14] west side and they'll have flaggers out [7:16] there. Once that work is complete, the [7:18] parking will be reestablished. Also [7:21] during that week, they'll install jersey [7:22] barriers and fencing around their [7:25] property uh as they get ready to start [7:28] doing demo and grading operations for [7:30] their project. Then that blue dash line [7:33] is the sidewalk detour. So, there'll be [7:35] signs placed uh over at the roundabout [7:38] at Graange to use that crosswalk and use [7:42] the south sidewalk along Eden Avenue [7:46] around the Eden Arcadia roundabout and [7:48] then use this new west temporary [7:51] sidewalk up the west side of Arcadia [7:54] where there is no sidewalk today. So, [7:56] they're building that. They need to [7:58] close the sidewalk adjacent to that [8:00] parcel on both Eden and Arcadia so they [8:03] can safely work on that parcel. [8:08] And then some pictures. Uh we always go [8:10] through some pictures and provide some [8:11] updates. Uh this picture is again [8:13] looking at the Vonnies on the right hand [8:16] side from various weeks of construction. [8:18] And the one on the right is what it [8:19] looks like today. So that bridge [8:23] foundation and bridge support is is [8:25] coming along very very nicely there on [8:28] the east side of the CPKC rail with the [8:31] B bridge. [8:34] Uh this is the intersection. The one on [8:35] the left was from two weeks ago where [8:37] they were still doing utility work. [8:39] Photo on the right is what it looks like [8:41] today. So they have curb and gutter in. [8:43] They're pouring sidewalks. You can see [8:45] the signal base is in and then they'll [8:47] be paving next week and then shifting [8:50] this traffic back over to that side in [8:53] that intersection like I discussed [8:55] earlier. [8:58] Uh the area in front of the Dino liquor [9:01] store is complete. So this is a picture [9:02] of that and we got the bike racks [9:04] installed uh in this photo on the left. [9:08] Then on the right is a photo looking [9:10] west. That's Washurn McCree funeral [9:14] chapel in the background. And this is [9:16] the east side of the high 100 bridge. So [9:19] just seeing some of the work taking [9:21] shape there on the east side of Highway [9:23] 100. [9:26] This is near Hawthorne Court, Hawthorne [9:28] Apartments. The one on the left was a [9:30] photo from a couple weeks ago. And the [9:31] one on the right is from this morning as [9:33] they continue to pour that retaining [9:36] wall before the noise wall gets [9:38] installed on top of that retaining wall. [9:44] This is looking east towards city hall. [9:48] You can see the green traffic signals in [9:50] the background. Photo on the upper left [9:52] was from four weeks ago. Bottom left was [9:56] from two weeks ago. And the bigger photo [9:59] on the right is from this morning [10:01] showing all the bridge supports [10:03] foundation work that's happened as they [10:05] get ready for those gvers here in a few [10:07] weeks of that first early September. [10:12] Then a couple zoomed in more give you [10:15] some scale of the bridge and the work [10:17] these guys are doing. So both left and [10:20] right are both on the Highway 100 [10:22] bridge. I think they're both on the west [10:24] side of Highway 100, but just giving you [10:26] an idea of the work they're doing, the [10:29] scale there. [10:32] And the again are renderings of the [10:33] finished bridge at 100. Left photo is [10:37] showing those wide sidewalks, new [10:39] traffic signals, and new turn lanes. One [10:43] on the right is the rendering of the [10:46] bridge from Highway 100 heading [10:47] northbound. And you're seeing all those [10:49] supports are nearly complete. And those [10:52] girders will be coming in just a few [10:54] weeks as this thing really starts to [10:55] take shape. Uh so we do this meeting in [10:58] two every two weeks. In two weeks Derek [11:01] Houston, our rep with TKDA is going to [11:04] be hosting this meeting and sharing [11:05] additional information as I will be out [11:07] at the office. So for Derek to host the [11:11] next meeting here in two weeks. [11:14] So I'll stop sharing and see there's any [11:17] questions [11:19] in the chat. Any [11:26] questions [11:31] for people to type in questions? [11:34] Diana staff [11:36] unmute and ask questions if you have it. [11:40] Uh, question one, will there be new [11:42] trees planted and if so, where and what [11:44] kind? Um, most likely not. We took a few [11:49] trees down that were volunteer trees. [11:54] Most of the bridges are wider than they [11:56] were before. So, we needed that space [11:58] for either the bridge structures or the [12:00] sidewalks. There was really not a lot of [12:03] space left for trees. Other than some [12:07] promises we made to Hawthorne apartments [12:10] there on their on their property behind [12:13] the new noise. So, in that area, there [12:15] will be some trees. We look if there's [12:18] other space, but right now it doesn't [12:19] look like there'll be too many new trees [12:20] just because we needed the space for [12:22] these new facilities. [12:26] Will mulch borders be replaced by my [12:29] road sign? [12:31] Uh, and Ryan, the holiday manager, [12:35] we can meet with you and talk through [12:38] restoration of your property as part of [12:40] this project. So, uh, typically we want [12:42] to put stuff back the way it was before [12:44] we got there. So we can definitely work [12:46] with you. We'll have Derek reach out. We [12:49] can have a conversation. [12:53] Brian had a question. Any more [12:54] commentary to offer about why Rail and [12:56] Excel don't seem to care about time, [12:57] cost, or inconvenience? [13:00] I have a lot of commentary, but I don't [13:02] think it's appropriate for this meeting [13:06] on on the lack of urgency by both [13:08] parties. The why a great question. I [13:10] have no idea why. We've communicated [13:13] with them multiple times for three [13:16] months every week. What are we doing? [13:18] This is the major issue. Um, stuff like [13:22] that. Uh, Mr. Crabtree, doesn't the 1968 [13:26] agreement cover? It covers an aerial [13:28] line, not a buried line is what we got [13:30] confirmation from those parties. So, [13:33] buried line got hit. It technically [13:36] wasn't covered in any agreements between [13:38] the parties. And again, that's between [13:40] them. [13:43] I have a question regarding the east [13:44] side of the new Vernon Avenue bridge [13:47] adjacent to Devanis. [13:50] Will there be an open gap between the [13:52] new bridge structure and the Devan's [13:54] building or will that space be filled [13:56] with new concrete and other landscaping? [13:59] Uh very detailed question Darren. I [14:02] think we would check in with you offline [14:05] and we can show you some plans and the [14:07] verific [14:13] have a conversation and help answer that [14:15] question. [14:17] Uh Mr. crab tree again and who's [14:19] responsible for any cost over on the [14:21] city, the county, the mindot. Great [14:24] question. We don't know yet. I would add [14:27] additional parties to that list. Excel [14:28] and rail, but how would what's our [14:31] ability to get those from them? That's a [14:34] good question. So, there's cooperative [14:36] agreements that lay out cost [14:38] responsibilities for the Hannipan County [14:40] Bridge, the Highway and Hinder Bridge, [14:42] and everything in between. And so [14:44] typically if items overrun those cost [14:46] share agreements, operative agreements [14:49] would dictate where those additional [14:51] costs go. Feel like this bridge side is [14:54] a different conversation that uh [14:58] potentially attorneys would get involved [15:00] in that discussion. [15:02] I live near Hawthorne Court near the [15:05] Atra crossing going through West 49th [15:08] Street. It appears the recent concrete [15:10] patching down on the street top of the [15:12] tracks were too high. Seems like every [15:14] time the train cut these massive scrapes [15:16] against the grout. [15:19] Uh we could take a look at what you're [15:21] talking about. So it sounds like the [15:22] crossing at 49th Street, the Buminous [15:24] was recently repaired. [15:26] Um we can take a look. [15:30] Will there be any tree clearing done [15:32] around 5100 building and the bridge that [15:36] connects to the other side? [15:40] Good question. [15:42] The map here and look at that site. [15:45] Nothing is being done to the Eden Avenue [15:47] bridge. [15:51] I don't think they have any trees on [15:53] their site. There's a few trees and [15:56] landscaping above that big retaining [15:58] wall. There's a few trees along Eden by [16:04] their east driveway. [16:07] those would get removed but then the [16:09] other trees are mostly in mind rightway. [16:11] So that's a question for [16:14] the developer and whether they worked [16:16] out any agreements with Mindot and those [16:18] trees that are outside their property [16:20] line in the Mindot right away on the [16:22] east or the north side of this port. [16:29] At a previous update you mentioned that [16:32] CPKC was paid to expedite a decision on [16:35] the line. Who paid to expedite the [16:37] decision and how was it paid? [16:40] Uh it's a project expense. So it's split [16:43] between all the parties [16:45] and paid as such. [16:55] Great questions. [16:57] Great questions. [17:01] What will replace the 5100 Eden [17:04] building? Uh it's going to be a [17:07] corporate headquarters, so commercial [17:10] building [17:12] uh for Opus, the Opus Development [17:15] Company, and then have a little retail [17:20] space on the first floor. [17:22] Those can be found, those were in [17:24] council packets earlier this year if [17:26] you're interested in seeing all those [17:28] renderings [17:29] of the project that was approved by the [17:31] city council. [17:39] questions. [17:41] Uh, I didn't answer. So, Justin, on that [17:45] decision to expedite, that was a $2,000 [17:49] fee if you want to know. We felt like [17:51] that was justified for a $20 million [17:54] project to try to keep it on schedule as [17:57] best we could because we felt like that [17:58] could be the hangup of this. my opinion [18:02] it's been more Excel has been the hang [18:04] up on this matter. [18:14] Um and Bill just put a link in from [18:16] better together.org the Opus 5100 Eden [18:19] development. So there's a link if you're [18:22] interested in looking at that [18:24] development project. Thanks, Bill, doing [18:26] that. [18:31] Other questions? So, I think there's a [18:34] lot of unknowns, unknown schedule on the [18:36] ramp closures coming up, unknowns on [18:40] when two parties are going to figure out [18:43] the power line. [18:46] So then that creates an unknown on just [18:48] the overall project schedule and [18:50] potential costs. [18:52] When we know more, we'll be sharing more [18:55] specifics out on these meetings, on the [18:57] website, and all those other [18:59] communication channels that we discussed [19:01] earlier. [19:08] Uh Darren, where can I reach out to you [19:10] about a question space? Uh go to the [19:12] better together.org [19:14] website, find the project page, and [19:16] Derek and I's phone number and emails [19:18] are on there. So then you can just ping [19:22] us that way, share your info and we can [19:24] reach out and meet you probably the best [19:26] is meet you out at Devanis and review [19:29] the area you're concerned about. [19:31] Derrick's out there every day for the [19:33] most part and can meet with you to have [19:35] those discussions. [19:39] Check out the website for emails and [19:41] phone numbers. [19:48] Anything else? [19:52] Great questions. [20:00] We will post the slides. We'll post this [20:04] recording to the website [20:07] as soon as we can. So, if you know of [20:08] others that want to see or hear this [20:10] information, send them there. If you got [20:12] specific questions, just reach out to me [20:14] or Derek. Be appreciated. For a [20:17] reminder, in two weeks, Derek will be [20:18] presenting information on where we're [20:20] at. So, [20:22] thanks everybody. Appreciate your time [20:25] and interest.