Board seeks huddle on College Drive project

Brainerd School Board Facilities Committee members told engineers from WSB and Associates about several of their concerns about the proposed College Drive improvement project.

Board members also requested a meeting between representatives of the engineering firm and the city of Brainerd to go over the proposed $7.3 million road reconstruction project slated to begin next year.

Specifically, board members had concerns about the proposed signalized intersection at Fifth and Quince streets that will include a 10-foot-wide pedestrian trail and easements that would need to be acquired at Brainerd High School.

Board member Lew Hudson said the traffic signal was important at that intersection.

"You have a convoluted mess there," Steve Lund, director of business services said. "You have buses, pedestrians, and it's all congested within a 15-20 minute time frame twice a day."

Kate Minor, WSB and Associates project engineer, said the project has a proposed stormwater pond near the soccer field located across from BHS South Campus. She said the pond, which will be fenced in, will take up part of the parking area, but the parking lot will be adjusted.

Minor said an appraisal on the land is expected to be completed within the next two weeks and there will be a review process.

Minor said College Drive had an average daily traffic of 14,000 to 15,000 motorists in 2008 and is projected to increase to 27,000 to 28,000 motorists in 2030, which is the amount of traffic that travels on Highway 371 today.

JODIE TWEED may be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.