Title
RESOLUTION ORDERING THE CLOSURE OF COMMONWEALTH AVENUE FROM IDAHO STREET TO GRAND AVENUE.
Body
CITY PROPOSAL:
RESOLVED, that the city council of the city of Duluth directs the public works and utilities department to physically close Commonwealth Avenue from Idaho Street to a point 300 feet south of the Grand Avenue intersection.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This resolution orders the closure of Commonwealth Avenue from Idaho Street to a point that is 300 feet south of Grand Avenue.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation improvements to Grand Avenue (from Becks Road to Interstate 35) require that various road closures and realignments for public safety be made, as recommended by the Metropolitan Interstate Council (MIC). Five closures and realignments have been constructed by MnDOT as part of the 2015 Grand Avenue improvements.
At this location, Commonwealth Avenue intersects Grand Avenue at a 20 degree angle, instead of a recommended 90 degree angle. The city and MnDOT staff discussed the closure of this portion of Commonwealth Avenue as part of the 2016 Grand Avenue improvement work to increase safety at this intersection and to reduce associated street maintenance of the road. Leaving this portion of Commonwealth Avenue open encourages traffic to use the less safe intersection rather than using the safer intersection of Idaho Street onto Grand Avenue.
City and MnDOT staff interviewed the local parcel owners in the north end of the east frontage (about 300 feet). The remaining east frontage is owned by the Wisconsin Central Railroad (about 600 feet). The entire west frontage is state-owned tax forfeit property. Total length of closure is about 600 feet. MnDOT will construct a turnaround for the active 300 feet next to Grand Avenue. This closure can be reconsidered if and when future conditions demonstrate a new need for it to be opened.