Business Signage for Armstrong Interchange Detour

One of the challenges during a large scale road construction project, such as the Armstrong Interchange, is the effect it has on motorists and their daily routines.   When detours and road closures change motorist’s normal traffic patterns, local businesses are effected.  Navigating construction zones can be difficult and finding your way to a local business can be a real challenge. Standard construction signage is normally a large arrow and a sign saying “Local Business Access”.  This signage is adequate for people familiar with the area, but doesn’t provide enough information for most motorists.  The City of Rogers dealt with a similar project with the Hwy 101 & County Road 144 Reconstruction. They were kind enough to share a couple of their ideas on how they attempted to minimize impacts to their business community located in the construction area.
 

15 Minutes

↵The city of Ramsey has faced a similar situation in the past with the construction of the Sunwood Dr Extension in the summer of 2012.  In that case the city fabricated business access signs and placed them at the corners of Bunker Lk Blvd/ Armstrong Blvd and Zeolite St/ Bunker Lk Blvd, directing motorists to the Northstar Market Place and to businesses on the west side of Armstrong Blvd.  In the case of the  Armstrong Interchange Project, signs would only need to be placed at the Zeolite St/ Bunker Lk Blvd. intersection, because traffic will still have the option to access Sunwood Dr from Armstrong Blvd.   PW still has all these signs in our inventory and could easily re-assemble them at little or no additional cost. The City of Rogers did basically the same thing with their signage, except they used one large sign with black text on a white background, instead of individual signs for each business.  Again PW could fabricate this type of sign in house.  The banner type sign that Rogers used works best were the motorist can view the sign from a stop condition, such as a T-intersection.  This type of sign would be hard to read, if a vehicle is traveling at any reasonable speed. This type of banner sign would also fall under Sec. 117-465. of city code that limits the location of temporary signs and the duration that they can remain in place. The city council would need to provide written exceptions for their use, if their use violated city code. The PW department could not fabricate this type of sign and would need to contract out.  The business access signage for the area south of Hwy 10 will be more of a challenge, because the intersection of Riverdale Dr and Armstrong Blvd will be closed.  The businesses west of Armstrong Blvd (U.S. Bank and Shorewood RV) will only have access from Hwy 10 east bound at Llama St.  Traffic east bound on Hwy 10 can enter at Llama St, but west bound traffic will have to travel 3000 ft to the west and make a u-turn and travel back to Llama St.  The businesses east of the intersection of Armstrong Blvd/ Riverdale Dr have a more convenient detour route. Traffic east and west bound on Hwy 10 can enter at Traprock St to reach  business destinations on the eastern half of Riverdale Dr. 

Alternative #1  Follow Anoka County's recommended signage plan
Alternative #2 City to fabricate or purchase and install local business signs.  Design and type based on committee discussion

General Fund 0260-6489 Traffic Engineering

Staff recommends alternative #2 City to fabricate or purchase and install local business access signs.  Design and type of sign based on committee discussion

Motion to accept staff recommendation of alternative #2 City to fabricate or purchase and install local business access signs.  Design and type of sign based on committee discussion or reject staff recommendation and motion to approve alternative based on committee discussion.