Resolution Number 11-23
RESOLUTION NUMBER 11-23
APPROVING THE US 53 AT CSAH 102 (OLD HWY 169)/9TH ST NORTH INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
WHEREAS, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), in cooperation with St. Louis County, has completed an intersection control evaluation of US 53 at CSAH 102 (Old Hwy 169)/9th St North; and
WHEREAS, the intersection control evaluation report recommends a traditional signalized intersection if the intersection geometry is converted to three legs and a single lane roundabout if the intersection geometry remains as four legs; and
WHEREAS, the US 53 at CSAH 102 (Old Hwy 169)/9th St North intersection improvement project is scheduled for the year 2027; and
WHEREAS, it is understood that future mining expansion by US Steel at the Minntac mine will eventually necessitate closure of CSAH 102 (Old Hwy 169) and Parkville Rd prior to realizing the full-service life of infrastructure investments in either road; and
WHEREAS, permanently closing CSAH 102 (Old Hwy 169) thus creating a three-legged intersection at US 53 and 9th St North would reduce the number of intersection conflict points which is expected to improve intersection safety performance; and
WHEREAS, St. Louis County has negotiated with the CN Railroad to allow the Mesabi Trail to remain in its current route alignment along CSAH 102 (Old Hwy 169) until 2032 which would allow the St. Louis and Lake Counties Regional Railroad Authority to relocate the Mesabi Trail within a timeframe that does not require the Mesabi Trail to be severed for an interim period; and
WHEREAS, St. Louis County is leading a project in 2025 to construct a J-Turn at the intersection of US 169 and CSAH 109 (Nichols Ave)/CSAH 103 (Mud Lake Rd) which is expected to increase the intersection capacity and improve the intersection safety performance and therefore would be expected to serve additional traffic that would be diverted as a result of closing CSAH 102 (Old Hwy 169); and
WHEREAS, new CSAH 102 (Park Ridge Dr), which runs parallel to US 169, provides a secondary access into the Parkville neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, the intersection control evaluation report recommendations have been presented to the Mountain Iron City Council, copies of which were before the Council.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOUNTAIN IRON, MINNESOTA, that the City Council of Mountain Iron approves and supports the recommendation of the intersection control evaluation report for a three-legged signalized intersection at the intersection of US 53 at 9th St North; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council of Mountain Iron approves and supports the permanent closure of CSAH 102 (Old Hwy 169) in the year 2027 as part of the US 53 at 9th St North intersection improvement construction project.
DULY ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL THIS 5th DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2023.
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Mayor Peggy Anderson
ATTEST:
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City Administrator
