Winter Advocacy: Highway 96 Resurfacing in White Bear Lake
MNDOT plans to resurface Hwy 96 from Hwy 61 in White Bear Lake to Hwy 95 in Stillwater in 2010. The project starts in June and the design plans will be finalized the end of January. The Bike/Walk Committee in White Bear Lake has been working with other agencies to influence MNDOT’s design.
The committee is urging the project to include provision to widen the shoulder to approximately 5ft (current is 2-3ft) and reduce the drive lane to 10.5ft (currently 12 ft).
MNDOT is scheduled to present their design plan on Monday, January 11, during a meeting at 7:00pm at White Bear Lake City Hall in downtown White Bear Lake.
MNDOT is a state agency, and thus highly influenced by a show of support for a plan or suggestion. The White Bear Lake Bike/Walk Committee is asking as many cyclists as are able show for the event. Once the design is final, the lane configuration on Highway 96 is unlikely to change for another 10 years!
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Depending on how they’re funding this, a reduction in lane width to 10.5 feet may not be possible. And given the relatively rural nature of the area, isn’t really even realistic. That said, an increase in shoulder width makes sense.