If the county and city engineer can’t get together to decide whether changes are needed to the north end of Bridge Avenue, then something is wrong. When a big factory makes changes, they have their own engineer decide on how to do the changes. They do not hire an consultant.

And Bridge Avenue isn’t going to get any busier because Kwik Trip is coming to town. And the same way with Hy-Vee Gas improving its place. People who do their shopping at Northbridge Mall might stop there. Hy-Vee Gas gets people from Interstate 90, and it gets a lot of people from the grocery store because it has gas coupons. People aren’t going to drive from another area of town to go to the north side of town to get gas.

I think what Bridge Avenue really needs is a stoplight at the street between Hy-Vee and the mall. I find it hard really sometimes, depending on the time of day, to turn back on to Bridge Avenue, especially if you want to go south. That will cut down on a lot of accidents. Even trying to make a left turn depends on the time of day. From in front of the shopping mall, it is sometimes hard to do.

 

Dave Olson

Albert Lea