CSAH 2 & 91 Roundabout Detour and Traffic in Neighborhoods
Scott County has closed the CSAH 2 & 91 intersection to traffic during construction of the roundabout. Full closure of the intersection is expected to last for approximately 10 weeks, but may be shorter dependent on weather. Constructing the roundabout with full closure reduced construction time by approximately 4-8 weeks.
While the CSAH 2 & 91 intersection is closed, an official detour route has been established and signed by Scott County. The official detour is included in the attached image. Despite being signed, drivers (especially area residents) may bypass the official detour and use residential neighborhoods as a shortcut. While the City cannot prohibit the use of residential neighborhoods as shortcuts, we can encourage use of the official detour and safe driving habits. Strategies demonstrated to limit traffic and promote safe driving have been implemented to address the potential for increased traffic and speeds through these neighborhoods. Strategies implemented include:
Signage – The detours around the closure are well posted. While these signs may act as a deterrent to a portion of the traffic tempted to use the shortcuts, they are unenforceable.
Extra Police Patrol – Police Officers have been scheduled for dedicated enforcement/education patrols along shortcut routes through neighborhoods.
Mobile Speed Trailer – A mobile speed radar sign will be moved along major shortcut routes to inform drivers of their speed and the remind them of the speed limit.
Unstaffed Decoy Squads – Unmanned squads will be parked by officers along shortcut routes to slow traffic down.
Street Lane Striping – It is a known phenomenon that driver’s will drive faster in wider, more open lanes. The shortcut routes have been stripped to better define the lanes and lower traffic speeds.
Traffic Monitoring – The City’s traffic counter will be placed along popular shortcuts to provide data to determine if, where and when there are traffic issues. The data can be compared to data collected before the intersection closure to measure the change in traffic and speeds.
Frequently Asked Questions
The frequently asked questions provide answers to common concerns we’ve heard from residents:
Q: Why doesn’t the City put up signs that say “Local Traffic Only” or “No Through Traffic” signs near the entrance of residential neighborhoods?
A: Signs such as these actually do little to deter traffic and cannot be enforced by the Police Department. The residential streets used for shortcuts are public, which means they cannot be restricted in this fashion. Moreover, police cannot stop a vehicle unless they have reasonable suspicion of a traffic violation and/or crime. These signs can create expectations for enforcement and frustration from residents when they cannot.
Q: How will the increased traffic through residential neighborhoods impact the roads that were recently improved?
A: The potential increase in traffic along the residential shortcuts is temporary and will have negligible impact on the overall lifespan of the street. Most of the shortcuts are rated as 9 ton roads capable of handling higher traffic volumes and heavier vehicles.
Q: The road closure/detour routes are poorly signed. What is the City doing about this?
A: Detour signage has been placed by Scott County at the major intersections along the detour routes. We’ve also asked Scott County to increase road closure/detour signage to help alleviate traffic in residential areas and re-direct traffic back to the official detour route. Additional questions specific to detour signage should be directed to Scott County Highway Department at 952.496.8346.
Q: Can the City temporarily reduce speed limits on the residential streets being used as shortcuts?
A: The 30 mph speed limit is set by State Statute for streets in urban districts. Aaron and Glenborough and Webster are streets in areas that meet the urban district definition. The City has no authority under State Statute or Rule to temporarily reduce the speed on those streets.
Q: Can stop signs or speed bumps be temporarily placed along the residential streets being used as shortcuts?
A: Placement of STOP signs or speed bumps would not conform with guidance in the Minnesota Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Non-conformant traffic controls are known to increase non-compliance, increase successful challenges to enforcement actions, induce unsafe behavior in other roadway users in the mistaken belief the new controls will be observed, create unrealistic enforcement expectations and demands on police and City Councils, and can lead to unsafe acceleration and quick-stop behavior from frustrated motorists.In short, non-conforming controls will not have the intended effect and can actually be detrimental.
The reason for this detour cannot be forgotten. Construction of a roundabout at CSAH 2 & 91 will greatly improve safety and facilitate better traffic flow through the intersection. All concerns regarding traffic, speeding, or unsafe driving should be directed to the Elko New Market Police Department by calling 911 or the non-emergency dispatch line at 952.445.1411.