BROOKINGS – The Brookings City Council heard some ideas Tuesday for improving 22nd Avenue from the Highway 14 bypass down to 20th Street South, including widening the lanes and moving the sidewalks away from the traffic.

Rich Uckert, from Banner Associates, Lance McQueen of HDR Engineering and Rick Laughlin of HDR Engineering presented the 22nd Avenue Corridor Improvements Study, which is available as an attachment to the agenda on the city’s website.

McQueen said the project was broken down into five segments: the Highway 14 bypass to 11th Street; 11th Street to Sixth Street; Sixth Street to Eastbrook Drive; Eastbrook Drive to 12th Street South and 12th Street South to 20th Street South. The top priority will be Sixth Street to Eastbrook Drive.

McQueen said the plan calls for the lanes to be widened to 11 feet across, with additional area coming from the east side south of Sixth Street. Both sides will be widened north of Sixth Street. 

The plan also calls for a 3-foot-wide colored boulevard between the street and sidewalk; this would be a solid surface, not grass. An 8-foot wide shared-use path for pedestrians and bikers would run down the west side until Third Street, then cross to the east side as it heads south.

The costs for widening lanes is estimated at $10 million. Reconstruction cost is estimated at $22.6 million. Laughlin said those estimates are “very preliminary.”

The earliest Phase 1 construction would start is 2019, City Manager Jeff Weldon said.

Councilors questioned the developers about some aspects of the project.

Councilor Holly Tilton Byrne asked why the shared-use path crosses over.

Laughlin said there is an established path on the east side, and there’s a nice path going by McCrory Gardens north of Sixth Street. Third Street is a good spot for the cross over since it’s in front of the hospital and there’s a traffic signal there now.

Councilor Ope Niemeyer said crosswalks should be labeled to help kids’ accessibility. Councilor Dan Hansen pointed out quite a number of kids cross 22nd Avenue to get to the golf course or Dakota Nature Park.

Councilor Nick Wendell asked if the boulevard could have vegetation instead of a solid surface.

McQueen said it could be either, but a boulevard that’s just three feet wide presents challenges. Snow removal is the biggest with salt use tending to damage grass and topsoil. With concrete, there’s no maintenance. Plus, they talked to Matt Bartley, the city’s street superintendent, and he said it would be easier to plow with concrete.

Tilton Byrne asked if vegetation could be put in as accents and if the surface could be permeable to aid in water runoff. McQueen said it was possible.

Councilor Patty Bacon said permeable was the responsible way to go and mentioned she would not ride her bicycle on 22nd Avenue because it was “too terrifying” with the sidewalks right next to the traffic lanes. She asked Weldon if the estimated price tag would work in the city’s Capital Improvement Plan. Weldon said he had not studied it, but breaking it into phases helps the affordability.

Niemeyer asked how much right-of-way will be lost for property owners. Laughlin said they will need to acquire a minimum of right-of-way, and they really want to keep the project in the existing right-of-way.

Niemeyer asked if they will be replacing the sidewalk south of Third, and McQueen said the “sidewalk, curb, gutter, everything” will be replaced; and just the sidewalk may be outside the existing right-of-way.

Hansen wanted to create a right turn lane for people wanting to get to Hy-Vee grocery and the gas station on the corner of Eighth Street South, citing the congestion that occurs now.

“Can we do it based on utilities and traffic flow?” Hansen asked.

Laughlin said it didn’t look like it was warranted at this point, but he added it could improve the safety of the roadway, since there have been crashes in that area. He also mentioned they wanted to improve the driveways so the traffic could move in and out better.

Bob Johnson, who lives on 22nd Avenue, asked if a colored boulevard would be put in on his side of the street, even if it’s just a foot or two.

“Shoveling snow is dangerous” when the person is right next to the traffic lanes, he pointed out.

City Engineer Jackie Lanning said permeable surfaces were made out of hard substances, not a rubber. Bacon said there were different options, including using pavers, where the spaces in between would provide drainage.

Jeff VanGerpen said south of 20th Street South there was an abrupt change and he wondered if there were plans to put in three lanes with 11-foot widths. Lanning said the pavement there is in good condition, but they are considering a left-hand turn lane at 20th Street South because the traffic backs up.

Mike Lockrem of the Bicycle Committee commended everyone for the work they’d done on the study. 

Mayor Keith Corbett said anyone with a question or comment should address them to Lanning so they can be taken into consideration while the project is in the development stage.

Contact Jodelle Greiner at jgreiner@brookingsregister.com.

Banner/HDR images: The Brookings City Council learned about recommendations from Banner Associates and HDR Engineering Tuesday on possible improvements to 22nd Avenue through the city. The earliest Phase 1 work could begin is 2019.