Bridge Avenue survey is 2 weeks away

Published 9:06 am Thursday, February 12, 2009

The results of an Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce survey regarding potential changes along the Bridge Avenue corridor are now expected to be released in about two weeks.

Chamber Operations Manager Tami Riecke said people can see the questions and answers from the survey the week of Feb. 23.

The chamber’s board of directors launched the survey at the end of January to give people the opportunity to ask questions about possible changes along the corridor.

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The road, which serves as one of the primary conduits between Albert Lea’s downtown and the commercial and residential areas to the north, faces whether to stay a two-lane road or to expand into a three-lane or four-lane road. Because it is a county highway that runs through the city limits, both the city and the county have a role in its renovations, no matter which option is chosen.

The survey launched by the chamber allowed people to ask up to five questions about the potential project.

It remained online through Feb. 3, and originally, the results were going to be available on Wednesday.

The issue of what to do with the roadway along Bridge Avenue resurfaced during the past few months as Albert Lea and Freeborn County officials discussed different design options for the road and whether to pursue federal funding opportunities for it.

A crowded public meeting was also held at Albert Lea City Hall at the beginning of January to seek input and have questions answered about the potential project.

The overwhelming opinion voiced at that meeting was that with some creative problem solving, added turning lanes or maybe even a smaller boulevard, many of the problems along the corridor could be resolved. People who were vocal at that meeting said they did not support a four-lane road.

Since that meeting, neither city nor county officials have indicated in a formal vote what direction they would like to take.

Federal funding grants are due this month.

When the results of the survey are released, the Chamber of Commerce will publish both the questions and the answers at www.albertlea.org/home.html.