Does Bridge Ave. need stoplights?

Published 9:54 am Monday, April 2, 2012

Increased development on the north end of Bridge Avenue is prompting county officials to look at whether changes need to be made to the road or its traffic controls.

Freeborn County Engineer Sue Miller said the Freeborn County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday is slated to vote on whether to pay a consultant to re-evaluate Bridge Avenue from Interstate 90 south to Hammer Road.

The evaluation would update traffic counts, turning movements and crash counts on that portion of the road, Miller said. Previous data was collected from 2001 to 2003.

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She said the goal is to study access and traffic controls — in other words, whether turning lanes or stoplights need to be added.

“It just seems like we’re starting to see things start to heat back up again and get exciting on the corridor,” Miller said. “We need to find out what would be the most appropriate way to preserve mobility and safety.”

Bridge Avenue serves as one of the primary conduits between Albert Lea’s downtown and the commercial and residential areas to the north. Because it is a county highway that runs through the city limits, both the city and the county have a role in its renovation, no matter what is decided for the route.

Discussion comes as Kwik Trip has announced it is coming to the corridor, and Hy-Vee Gas is talking about making some improvements to its facility. The change of ownership in the Chevrolet car dealership on the street is also attracting customers, she said.

What to do on Bridge Avenue — also Freeborn County Road 22 — has been a point of discussion for both the county and city in the last decade, though the focus usually has been on the south end of the street.

Miller said she does not think the county will be asking the city to join in the cost of the evaluation but noted the city is on board with it.

She said the evaluation is slated to be completed by early summer with public participation sessions about the project in the early fall.