The Dayton City Council received an update on the future of a potential improvements to the intersection of County Road 81 and Territorial Road during its April 8 meeting.
The council also approved a grant application for playground equipment.
County Road 81 and Territorial Road
Feedback on the proposed improvements to the County Road 81 and Territorial Road intersection were before the City Council.
City Engineer Jason Quisberg said the estimated project costs are $1.85 million. He added he did not recommend the city move forward with the realignment until outside funding is secured or development comes in.
Quisberg said last November, the council authorized a preliminary design for improvements to the intersection.
In a memo to the council, he said, “Multiple developers have initiated projects on the property located on the northwest quadrant of County Road 81 and Territorial Road. All have withdrawn their applications citing the unclear obligations/expectations regarding the transportation improvements needed for access and upgrades at this named intersection as one of the factors leading to that action.”
Discussions were to have Territorial Road realigned where it connects to County Road 81 further to the east. This would increase the safety of the intersection for motorists as well.
“There was a lot of concern of how [future developments] have access, who’s paying for the upgrades needed to support that access, and what needs to be done,” Quisberg said in regards to future development in this area.
The city decided to move forward with the intersection project. City staff determined an appropriate layout
Since November, the preliminary design and layout have been completed.
The city had reeived some “minor comments” from the county’s review process, Quisberg said, but he likened the comments to recommendations for when the final drawings of the project were created.
Members of the council gave some input on the update.
Councilmember Scott Salonek asked if there would be a signal at the intersection. Quisberg said there would not be one.
“It would take a signal to create those breaks in the traffic,” he added.
Councilmember Matt Trost asked if Hennepin County preferred or did not prefer a signal at the intersection. Quisberg said the county did not comment either way.
“They continue to say it doesn’t meet warrants at this time,” he added. “I don’t know of a study having been done since 2016, but I would suspect it doesn’t meet warrants according to their standards.”
Playground grant agreement
The City Council also approved a Hennepin County Youth Sports Grant application.
The city is looking to purchase new playground equipment for a new city park. The total cost for the equipment is $125,000.
Dayton is requesting $100,000 from the Hennepin Youth Sports Program and will assume responsibility for providing matching funds of $100,000.
Salonek questioned why the city needed the matching portion. “How can we be matching that $100,000?”
Public Works Director Marty Farrell said there would be additional costs for the landscaping and the concrete work, making the total costs around $225,000.
The park and the funds will be used for the north side of the park, which is planned off of 117th Avenue near Brayburn Trails, Brayburn East and Sundance Greens. The park would be developed in several phases. The first phase would be the northern half of the property. Planned for this phase are soccer and pickelball/tennis courts, parking, basketball half-court, sand volleyball area, cornhole area, a play area and a shelter.
The city will assume all operational and maintenance costs for the project.
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