[0:00] Okay, we'll get started. Good morning [0:03] everybody. [0:04] It is update meeting number 15. Just a [0:10] reminder that we are recording these and [0:13] we'll post them to the website after the [0:15] meeting and the slides will be posted to [0:17] the website. So, meeting number 15, [0:20] we're recording October 16th, 2025 for [0:23] the Vernon Avenue and Highway 100 [0:25] interchange project. Again, thank you [0:28] for your patience. Businesses are open [0:30] and accessible. There continues to be [0:32] noise, [0:34] dust, vibrations, and other construction [0:37] related stuff. Be safe. Stuffer [0:40] pedestrians and crosswalks. Be courteous [0:42] to fellow drivers. Those mini [0:44] roundabouts get very busy, especially [0:46] during school pickup and drop off times. [0:50] And again, there's some various midblock [0:53] crossings and other crosswalks within [0:55] the area. So, [0:58] use the ones you feel most comfortable [1:00] using with the increased traffic along [1:03] Eden Avenue. [1:06] Goals of the project, improve safety and [1:09] mobility of all users, create these new [1:11] separated pedestrian routes, improve [1:13] traffic operations, consolidate access [1:16] points on a 100, and improve [1:19] connectivity and limit construction [1:21] impacts by merging county and city [1:24] projects into one. [1:27] And again, we're all familiar with this, [1:28] but this is the project area. Starts [1:30] west of Interlockan Boulevard. Includes [1:33] the Interlock and Vernon Gus Young [1:35] interchange. [1:37] Then the Vernon Avenue bridge over CPKC [1:41] rail. Continuing to the east, new [1:45] intersections on each side of Highway [1:47] 100 with new traffic signals. [1:50] the new bridge over Highway 100 that [1:53] will carry Vernon and 50th Street. And [1:56] then on the east side, it's going to tie [1:57] into the work that the city did last [1:59] year on 50th near Graange with a new [2:03] aligned off-ramp of Highway 100. Instead [2:07] of exiting on the Graange, you will now [2:09] exit on 50th Street. [2:14] We've been communicating in many [2:16] different methods throughout this [2:18] project and we will continue to do that [2:21] through this fall and next year when we [2:25] start talking about schedule here but [2:26] better together website is the best [2:30] location for project updates for [2:32] documents for maps those sorts of [2:34] things. So again check it out. We have a [2:37] couple more bi-weekly meetings coming up [2:40] in two and four weeks. [2:43] um and continue to check out the website [2:44] for more information. [2:47] Now, we'll get into specific [2:48] construction schedule details [2:52] uh and stuff that's occurred and show [2:54] some pictures and stuff like that. So, [2:55] if we look at this interchange at [2:57] Interlock in Vernon and Gus Young, this [2:59] has been free flowing for for months [3:01] now. Um the Gus Young has been closed. [3:04] They are installing a crane there today [3:07] I think or yesterday but the crane will [3:09] be going up to to assist with that west [3:12] abutment work so that Gus Young needs to [3:14] stay closed while the crane is located [3:16] there so there'll be no changes in the [3:19] short term to this intersection [3:23] we [3:24] recently over a month ago closed all the [3:26] on andoff ramps of a 100 that's created [3:29] some challenging challenges for people [3:32] traversing through the district. Uh this [3:35] is stage four and the project is on [3:38] schedule to open the Highway 100 bridge [3:40] and these on andoff ramps mid November. [3:43] We are currently still on track for mid [3:46] November to re-establish the access on [3:49] and off Highway 100 at this location. [3:54] What is not on schedule, which we've [3:56] been talking about for months now, is [3:58] the west abutment of the Vernon Avenue [4:01] Bridge. So we are looking to the west. [4:04] So you can see the holiday sign, the [4:06] caribou in the background. They have [4:09] started work. The old abutman's finally [4:12] removed. Excel has relocated the power [4:14] line that was in the way. Um [4:19] so we did discuss with the contractor [4:21] over the last couple weeks, could we [4:23] accelerate this project and get the [4:25] bridge open? [4:27] and they came up with various options [4:30] and cost and they ranged anywhere from [4:32] half a million to $2.3 million and even [4:35] at that high end there was only the [4:38] ability to get the bridge temporarily [4:40] open for about six weeks in February and [4:42] March there's just too much concrete [4:44] work too much work to do that the [4:47] acceleration really would not provide [4:50] much benefit be six weeks on some [4:52] temporary concrete that would have to be [4:54] removed be very expensive [4:57] um and then it would have to be shut [4:58] down again in April to finish the [5:01] project. So the city and the county did [5:03] not see this as a reasonable cost [5:05] escalation for the benefit cost just did [5:08] not provide enough benefit. So Ames is [5:11] going to continue to work through the [5:13] fall as long as weather allows. [5:16] They will demobilize [5:19] equipment on that side and then [5:21] operations will come back in April [5:24] pending weather. So again, weather [5:26] dependent. We're throwing April in [5:27] there. Uh we'll see how the winter is. [5:31] We are requiring them to reopen Gus [5:33] Young Lane once there's room to have [5:36] safe traffic operations. So there will [5:38] be a temporary traffic signal installed [5:41] on that corner to allow people from [5:43] Interlockan heading south to go straight [5:46] south to access the Grand View parking [5:49] ramp to access Dean's the Vernon shops [5:53] area uh Edina Liquor. So we anticipate [5:58] that to be late November, early December [6:00] roughly when we know more dates. Again, [6:02] it's weather dependent. [6:05] We will let people know and that will be [6:07] open through the winter and once they [6:09] got to remob the crane and other [6:11] equipment in April roughly then we would [6:15] most likely have to reclose that [6:17] intersection to create space for them to [6:18] work. [6:20] The new bridge is estimated to be [6:22] complete in the midsummer next year in [6:25] 2026. [6:27] Again, how much they can get done this [6:29] year is weather dependent. When they can [6:31] start again in the spring is weather [6:32] dependent. So, we're estimating just [6:35] saying midsummer at this point. Once [6:38] those schedules are more locked in next [6:40] April, we would have much better dates [6:44] to share with the public. Uh, and we [6:46] will do that. The other factor on this [6:49] whole issue is cost. We don't know what [6:52] the cost impacts are going to be because [6:54] we're going to track the contractor's [6:55] work when they restart up in the spring [6:57] and see what would be typically part of [7:00] the normal project and what would not [7:04] and we'll track those things to [7:06] determine what kind of cost overruns [7:08] we're going to have related to this [7:10] power line issue. [7:13] Other schedule details. So, the [7:15] northbound [7:17] high 100 on-ramp, the noise wall planks [7:19] are going to be starting very soon. Uh, [7:22] concrete curb, you saw the curb, and [7:24] I'll show you some pictures. The new [7:25] curb along the on and off ramps was [7:28] completed. The curb along Vernon for a [7:30] big portion of the project was [7:32] completed. Tie into Arcadia. They're [7:35] working on a lot of flat work in the [7:37] medians and sidewalks and stuff like [7:39] that. Asphalt paving is scheduled for [7:42] next week. We did determine there's [7:45] enough room in the medians uh to plant [7:48] some trees. So on the west side, on the [7:50] Vernon Avenue side, there is space to [7:53] stay out of any sighteline issues with [7:55] the signals and space for maintenance [7:58] vehicles for both Mindot and the county [8:00] and the city, all three parties to do [8:01] maintenance and still plant 10 trees. So [8:05] we're going to plant 10 trees in the [8:06] center median on the Vernon side, the [8:09] west side. The median on 50th Street is [8:12] a little tighter and smaller and has [8:15] some sight line issues that we got to [8:17] make sure we keep open for that new [8:19] signal system. We have space to plant [8:21] three trees on that side. So, in total, [8:24] there's going to be 13 trees planted [8:26] within the medians on both sides of the [8:29] Highway 100 bridge. [8:31] and sidewalks and signal pole bases, [8:34] stuff like that continues to be [8:36] installed uh this week, last week, this [8:39] week, and the week moving forward. [8:42] And then just some pictures. So again, [8:44] the intersection here at Interlockan and [8:46] Vernon has not changed. It's free [8:48] flowing uh with traffic. [8:51] The picture on the left is the east [8:53] abupman of the Vernon Avenue bridge and [8:55] it's been in that state for a while. And [8:58] the picture on the right is progress on [9:00] the west abupment. The old one's been [9:01] removed. They're protecting the slope [9:04] from the rain and they will be in there [9:06] starting to put up forms to build a [9:09] mirror image of what you're seeing on [9:10] the left hand picture on the right side. [9:15] Some more pictures. Here's a signal base [9:17] being drilled in to install a traffic [9:20] signal base. You can see the concrete [9:21] curb was installed. This is next to [9:25] Washurn McGravy and that landed stone [9:27] wall that's there. Picture on the right [9:30] is looking back towards Hawthorne Court. [9:33] See the new curb there around Arcadia [9:35] with Devanis in the back left. So [9:38] continuing to do the curb and the [9:39] flatwork. [9:42] This picture is looking north down the [9:44] new Highway 100 ramp. So again, the curb [9:47] was installed and they're getting ready [9:49] for paving next week. And you can see [9:51] the noise wall posts have been installed [9:54] along that corridor and those planks [9:56] will be starting very soon. [9:59] and then on the highway 100 bridge [10:01] itself. So they poured the deck, but now [10:04] they need to construct the barriers on [10:08] the sides and the median down the [10:09] center, the sidewalk. So you're looking [10:11] at the sidewalk here on the south side [10:13] of the bridge heading towards city hall. [10:15] There'll be railings installed on top of [10:17] that barrier uh as we move forward. So, [10:20] they're doing some of that additional [10:22] flat work on top of that bridge as we [10:25] speak. [10:27] And again, this is the renderings of [10:29] what it looks like afterwards. The one [10:31] on the left is looking towards Hawthorne [10:33] Court in the background. The new [10:35] sidewalks and bridge and turn lanes. The [10:38] one on the right is heading northbound [10:41] 100. What it would look like from the [10:42] highway side. [10:47] With that, I'm going to stop sharing. [10:49] And if there's any questions, please use [10:53] the chat [10:55] and we'll work through those questions [10:56] as they pop up in the chat. Again, we're [11:00] going to download [11:02] um these slides. We're going to download [11:06] this video to the website. So, if [11:08] there's someone that wanted to see it [11:10] and [11:12] need to see it, they can check it out [11:14] there. Uh John had a question. Where do [11:17] you hope to be before work stops for the [11:19] winter? [11:20] West bridge abutman poured all beam set. [11:25] Yeah, right. We the abupment will be [11:27] poured. Then it becomes is it going to [11:29] be backfilled with aggregate material [11:33] with frozen ground? Not frozen ground. [11:35] We would love to get the beam set. So, I [11:38] guess we will see if that happens or not [11:42] based on weather. [11:44] With the rail bridge incomplete, will we [11:46] be able to get to Vernon Interlockan [11:50] to the Highway 100 bridge via Arcadia [11:52] during the winter? Yes, you'll be able [11:54] to go northbound Arcadia to eastbound [12:00] Vernon 50th. So, you can go to the new [12:02] intersection. You'll be able to go [12:04] straight and access the new northbound [12:06] on-ramps by taking a lefthand turn. [12:09] You'll be able to go straight to 50th in [12:11] France, and you'll be able to take a [12:13] right to get on the southbound I 100 [12:17] entrance ramp. So, that's where all the [12:18] access to I 100's going to occur. So, [12:21] yes, Arcadia will be open [12:25] northbound to eastbound and then you'll [12:28] have those extra movements that you can [12:29] do off the bridge. [12:32] Great question. [12:42] Other questions? [12:50] Continue to check the website. I just [12:52] put an update on there [12:54] as we kind of monitor the contractor's [12:58] schedules and weather. We'll continue to [13:00] let you know when operations will cease [13:04] for the winter [13:06] um and when they'll demo some of their [13:09] equipment so we can get that Gus Young [13:10] back open is the key next step here. [13:14] Next next step here for traffic [13:16] operations and opening Gus young lane. [13:20] So Vernon from 100 to the rail bridge [13:24] will be paved etc before winter. Yeah, [13:26] they want to basically draw a line just [13:29] west of Arcadia [13:31] in that area. They're going to try to [13:32] finish everything from there to the [13:34] east. So, all that has to be left is [13:36] around the bridge, the Vernon Avenue [13:38] bridge. The movement that will be [13:41] similar to what was happening earlier [13:43] this summer is people taking the exit [13:45] for southbound 100 will go straight [13:47] across Vernon and exit onto Arcadia and [13:51] loop around Hilltop. So there really [13:55] wasn't a good way to have them take a [13:57] right on Vernon and then take a left [13:59] through a median to go southbound on [14:01] Arcadia. So the access from southbound [14:05] 100, you'll go straight through loop up [14:07] to Arcadia and access the district like [14:10] was happening for most of the summer. [14:14] Great question. We want to get as much [14:17] done this year as possible, whether it's [14:19] sidewalks and paving and street and just [14:22] have that area around the bridge to [14:24] complete next year. [14:27] There's another median to fix on Vernon [14:30] west of the intersection that was used [14:32] as a transition between east and [14:34] westbound. They're planning to do that [14:36] median and get that work done. They're [14:39] going to pave course up to the edge of [14:43] the intersection at Interlockan. So then [14:46] anything paved on Vernon to the west [14:49] would be done. And then they'll do some [14:52] temporary asphalt [14:54] paving right next to the curb to protect [14:57] the curb from snowplow operations this [14:59] winter so we don't damage all that. Then [15:02] they do the workhorse in that [15:03] intersection the final top layer next [15:05] year. [15:16] Um, there's a question there [15:19] that I don't understand. So, we'll get [15:21] back to you on that. Whoever that [15:23] whoever JJ is, [15:25] send a note to me, email or on the [15:28] website, and we'll [15:31] talk to our bridge designers and see [15:36] what that question's about. [15:38] Other [15:45] questions? Throw in the chat. [15:49] Will the pavement on Vernon in front of [15:54] Wells Caribou tire place be patched at [15:58] some point? Lots of potholes. Oh, great [16:01] question. So, this project has project [16:04] limits. Wherever those limits end, it's [16:06] going to be new pavement to the east. [16:09] The county [16:11] owns and operates Vernon, so they have a [16:14] pavement [16:16] maintenance project scheduled in 2027, I [16:21] believe. So, not next year, but the year [16:24] after. So, it'll be one more year of [16:25] patching, but then they want to go from [16:27] our construction limits. I think they [16:29] want to do a mill and overlay through [16:31] the district out towards the southwest. [16:35] So, if there's currently [16:38] big potholes and stuff like that, then [16:40] we would make that request with the [16:42] county to come in and continue to do [16:44] their patching operations until they can [16:46] come and do that pavement maintenance [16:49] operation in I believe it is in 27. [16:54] So, good questions. The city did some [16:56] patching here earlier this summer just [16:58] because we were up in that area. [17:10] Other questions? [17:14] Again, check out the website. We'll post [17:16] this material. I'm available if people [17:20] have other questions. They can come [17:21] visit if there's questions. You have a [17:23] bigger group you want to share some [17:24] information with. Let me know. [17:27] Can figure that out. [17:38] Not seeing any other [17:41] questions or anybody typing. [17:45] I think we'll end the meeting now and [17:47] again we'll post it. Go to the website. [17:50] You have my email, a phone call if [17:51] there's other stuff. Oh, there's one [17:53] last question here. [17:55] Jennifer had a question. To clarify, if [17:59] you're driving south on a 100, you will [18:02] be able to exit again at some point on [18:04] the 50th. So, if you're driving south on [18:06] 100, yes, that exit ramp will be open [18:10] mid November. You'll come up to the new [18:13] intersection at Vernon next to the new [18:15] bridge. From there, you could either go [18:18] straight [18:20] if you're going to access [18:22] Devan's, Vernon shops, Jerry's, and [18:25] you'll take the little loop behind [18:26] Hilltop and get on the Arcadia and then [18:29] use Arcadia or Eden to access those [18:32] businesses. If you come off that exit in [18:34] Hint Vernon and want to take a left to [18:36] go to 50th and France, you will be able [18:38] to go across the new bridge to head [18:41] towards City Hall or 50th in France. So, [18:45] yes, southbound exit's going to be [18:48] reopened. Northbound onramp's going to [18:50] be reopened. The new northbound off-ramp [18:53] is going to be open. So, there'll be [18:55] access there both northbound and [18:57] southbound from [18:59] right around that new Highway 100 [19:01] bridge. [19:04] Uh there's a question if the meeting is [19:06] about more than the bridge project, can [19:08] you update us on city street projects? [19:11] Yeah, Bridget, if there's you have a a [19:14] neighborhood group or an apartment group [19:16] that's interested in some citywide [19:19] project updates, I definitely visit [19:21] condos and apartments and neighborhood [19:23] meetings to talk about not only this [19:25] project but bigger city projects. So, I [19:27] would ask you to send me an email or [19:29] give me a call and we can figure out [19:32] what your need is and whether it's [19:35] during the day, you know, I've I've met [19:37] over lunchtime or after hours. So, you [19:40] let me know, give me a call, send me a [19:42] note, and if there's a need, we can [19:44] figure out whether it's me or maybe have [19:45] questions on different city projects [19:47] that it might be uh somebody else. Ah, [19:50] Chowan Park, that'd be me or Aaron or [19:54] Ben would be available to do that. So, [19:57] yep, please reach out separately and we [19:58] can figure that out because we do have [20:00] planned meetings already for that [20:02] project moving forward. [20:07] Will the southbound ramp from Eden [20:10] Avenue onto Highway 100 remain? Uh we [20:13] have that scheduled for to be closed. We [20:15] just don't have a schedule because this [20:17] project we needed that on-ramp. That's [20:19] one of the highest crash rates in town. [20:22] All of our traffic studies have stated [20:24] we don't need that any longer when these [20:26] new improvements are done. So the plan [20:28] is to close that southbound on-ramp from [20:30] Eden Avenue. I don't know whether [20:32] that'll be 2026 or 2027. [20:36] really depends on when this project's [20:37] over and we can look at the funding and [20:40] the impacts that this project has on [20:41] funding will determine when that on-ramp [20:44] can be closed. [20:52] Good questions. Thanks for the [20:54] questions. [21:02] Now we'll see if that was the last [21:04] question. So, we'll give it another [21:05] minute. [21:07] Thank everybody for their time. Again, [21:10] we'll post this information. If you have [21:11] specific questions you didn't get [21:13] answered, just reach out. Happy to [21:16] assist [21:18] with any comments or concerns you have. [21:23] All right. Thanks everybody. Thanks for [21:25] joining and let me know if you got [21:26] additional questions.