As the traffic signal replacement project continues on Highway 3, lane closures continue to create traffic snafus around town.
Northfield Chief of Police Mark Elliott offered some clarity on the project as to why exactly the signals are being replaced, and what is being done about some of the issues.
Crews, he said, are adding an Emergency Vehicle Traffic Signal Preemption system that is being paid for by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The system will allow for firefighters, ambulance drivers and police officers to change a signal as they approach it. Having a system like this in place, he said, is good for everyone on the road.
“It does a couple of things. One, it allows our response to be faster, so we can get to the emergencies such as medicals or for the fire department to arrive quicker. But it also stops the other traffic so there’s less chance that cross traffic will have a collision with an emergency vehicle as they’re responding. You know, sometimes people don’t see the lights or don’t hear the sirens. It really is a safety feature.”
Another feature being installed is a flashing yellow left arrow that will allow for left turns when no traffic is coming and should improve traffic flow. They are also replacing the standard light bulbs with LED lights.
Chief Elliott and his department are well aware that some of the newly installed lights are not completely functioning properly. He said the problems stem from the fact that the lights have not yet been programmed by MnDot, and are working on temporary control panels. The complaints have been passed along to the Public Works Department and the contractors doing the work so they can mitigate the issues. Once the signals are all in place, MnDot will install new control panels and will program them appropriately.
Elliott assured the public that this project is worth the hassle. He asked drivers to exercise patience and caution.
“We understand there are some challenges, and there is also a lot of traffic. Folks, please slow down and watch for the workers that are out there working under traffic conditions. We don’t want to have to shut down the highway. That would really cause problems. So please drive safely.”
A statement issued by the City of Northfield earlier this month said residents can expect the project to be complete by early August.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Northfield Chief of Police Mark Elliott can be heard here
Long sought funding for Mill Towns Trail delivered by legislature
During the City Council work session on Tuesday night, Northfield Director of Public Works and City Engineer Dave Bennett gave a five-year overview of the city’s Capital Improvement Plan and the Capital Equipment Plan. Bennett touched on a wide variety of projects in various forms of development, from storm sewer and flooding infrastructure improvements to improvements needed in city buildings, to park improvements. There were some elements of his presentation, however, that stood out.
When the state legislature passed the $2.6 billion infrastructure bill last month, $8.2 million was allocated to Northfield to build the city’s section of the Mill Towns Trail. The project, which has been in discussion for more than 20 years, will build the six-and-a-half-mile section of the bicycle trail running from the Historic Waterford Iron Bridge through Northfield, down Jefferson Parkway and connect with Dundas. The City of Northfield will pay approximately $3.5 million on top of the money allocated by the state.
When complete, the trail will connect Faribault to Cannon Falls over 25 miles of bicycle paths. Northfield City Administrator Ben Martig said the highly anticipated trail will be very popular as soon as it is finished.
“You’ll be able to do a day trip up to the historic bridge and maybe pack a lunch and sit and have a good time and then come back. And eventually we’ll connect to Lake Bilsby and over to Cannon Falls and on down to Red Wing. That will be a cool trail segment as well. That’s the big one in 2025 that we’re working on with the DNR.”
A section of the trail that runs between Dundas and Northfield that was built more than two decades ago is scheduled to be refurbished in 2025 as well.
Bennett also touched on the proposed Drinking Water Treatment Plant project, which continues to move forward. In December the city announced it has received a grant from the federal government for just over $25 million, which would cover about 75% of the project’s total cost. However, while the grant has been awarded to the city, the money itself has yet to be allocated. Should the money not come through, Bennett said city water rates could increase by 32% in 2024. The project is currently before the Senate Appropriations Committee. He said the city will know more about the status of the funding in July.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Northfield City Administrator Ben Martig can be heard here
City wants dialogue on Highway 246
The City of Northfield is conducting a corridor study of about two miles of urban and rural road on Trunk Highway 246, stretching from Highway 3 to County Road 1.
A statement posted to the city website is asking for community input on this study. The city would like to know about the concerns that are most prevalent to the corridor, and what opportunities residents see to make improvements in the area.
A page on the city website would like to know, for example, if there are difficulties in making a turn at certain intersections, or if pedestrians are commonly crossing in unmarked areas and where those areas are located, or if there are environmental and weather-related problems anywhere along the corridor.
An interactive map has been posted to the page in order to facilitate the comments and concerns, and the hope is for people to make comments and check back on a regular basis. The statement says that the interactive map is a two-way communication tool that will be reviewed regularly by the project team. Those who leave comments could receive questions on that comment from the city workers, thereby facilitating a dialogue between residents and the city so the goals of the project can be defined to meet the overall needs of the community.
For more information, or to see the interactive map, visit the Northfield website at northfieldmn.gov.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
