Connecting and Protecting Vulnerable Populations in the City of Annandale
By Jared Voge, PE, Principal Engineer
In the City of Annandale, elementary school children and the elderly both needed improvements to the surrounding corridor, Trunk Highway (TH) 24 and Hemlock Intersection, to improve safety in their community and provide better access for two of the most vulnerable populations.
Since opening to the public in 2013, Annandale Elementary School’s morning drop-off and afternoon pick-ups created frustrations for the district, parents, and surrounding residents. Safety concerns were brought up, but unfortunately, the city and school district did not have the funding to act on those concerns at the time.
Years later, the Annandale Care Center, a senior living community adjacent to Annandale Elementary School, desired an expanded second campus for their care center, which would create 40 jobs and provide homes for 42 elderly residents. Once the plan for the project was in motion, and with the knowledge of the ongoing dissatisfaction with the elementary school’s morning and afternoon traffic routines, involving Annandale Elementary School into the project was ultimately a no brainer — it was time to address the corridor deficiencies along TH 24, a three-lane undivided highway with limited pedestrian facilities.
The Million-Dollar Question – Funding for the City of Annandale
Once a project solution is identified, the million-dollar question (literally) becomes where will the funding come from? The city worked with Bolton & Menk to identify funding solutions, seeking both state and federal funding opportunities to get the best project for the least amount out-of-pocket.
Every time the project was advertised for bids, there was new funding potential. Of the total $2.8 million construction cost, Bolton & Menk secured $2.4 million in state and federal funds for the City of Annadale. The remaining cost was distributed among the city, Annandale Care Center, the school district, and the township.
Constructing TH 24 in Only Eight Weeks
The city sought to solve these two requests simultaneously; however, the project had to be constructed under a tight timeline of only eight weeks to be ready for the upcoming school year. Since the deadline was crucial to meet, it was surprisingly easy to get all the stakeholders on board, including the school district, MnDOT, Wright County, Corinna Township, City of Annandale, the Annandale Care Center, and Landwehr Construction.
Project designs were conceptualized three years prior but had to be approved by MnDOT. To identify the most efficient solution to upgrade the corridor, an Intersection Control Evaluation (ICE) Report, created by Bolton & Menk and required by MnDOT, included a roundabout at TH 24 and improvements to Hemlock Street, with medians restricting northbound traffic movements at the elementary school and creating a protected left-bound turn lane into the elementary school for southbound traffic.
Even though MnDOT had a full workload already, which is typically planned out five years in advance, they were eager to review the project design since it was locally led. MnDOT helped keep the project moving forward with the least number of interruptions by approving the closure of TH 24 with a detour for the full eight weeks. At first, the community was skeptical of the proposed roundabout as it would be the first in the community; however, they have since expressed how pleased they are with the function of the roundabout and elementary school intersection.
Designing the Roundabout for the City of Annandale
In 2020, Annandale’s downtown streetscape project was completed by Bolton & Menk as part of a MnDOT reconstruction project on the south side of TH 24. These streetscape elements included colored concrete and boulevard plantings, which were also used in the City of Annandale’s new roundabout, providing identifying characteristics that matched the previous streetscape design.
Hemlock Street, leading into the roundabout, was reconditioned through the full-depth reclamation (FDR) process, helping the high school morning and afternoon travel go more smoothly. This improved road leads to Annandale High School and the Recreational Park, improving routes for more than just students and helping to provide access to the care center employees.
Future Impacts to the City of Annandale
The safety improvements from this project will last for generations to come. Parents, students, and teachers no longer stress about traffic congestion and have greater peace of mind knowing their children can safely walk to Annandale Elementary School. Residents, family members, and employees of the Annadale Care Center can visit their loved ones more easily and safely, improving the quality of life for all community members. While traffic volumes may change overtime, the project has been set up to withstand the test of time.
The City of Annandale’s TH 24 and Hemlock Street improvement project became a shining example of what can happen through great conversations, partnerships, and most importantly, having a commitment to improve the lives of their citizens.
November 3, 2024
November 3, 2024
October 2, 2024
APWA-MN Chapter, PO Box 46266, Eden Prairie, MN 55344-9712 | 1-888-407-2650 | Copyright © 2024 | Privacy Policy | Site Credits | Site Map |