Douglas Drive Corridor Project
Project Information Meetings
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In July 2008, the City of Golden Valley officially began a study of its Douglas Drive corridor, which runs from Olson Memorial Hwy (Hwy 55) to Medicine Lake Rd (County Rd 70). To continue addressing suggestions identified in the Douglas Drive Corridor Study to improve driver and pedestrian safety as well as traffic efficiency, the City is partnering with Hennepin County to plan a 2016 reconstruction project that would add turn lanes, allow for shoulders and bike lanes, improve sidewalks, install street lights, and place existing above-ground utilities underground.
The project has an estimated cost of about $20 million, with Golden Valley responsible for roughly $9.5 million. Hennepin County will pay for about $10 million of the roadway work, design, and right-of-way acquisition.
Preliminary project design has begun with aid from a federal grant awarded by Transit for Livable Communities (TLC). The $1 million-plus grant will provide money for preliminary engineering and some early acquisitions of right-of-way.
Golden Valley is paying for its share of the cost with Xcel Energy franchise fees. Because of levy limits on property taxes, funding this project through utility franchise fees is the most feasible payment option. The Xcel Energy franchise fee does not affect bills from CenterPoint Energy, Comcast, Qwest, or any other utility company. The costs of the reconstruction may fluctuate due to inflation and other variables over the years. The franchise fees will remain in effect until all costs can be repaid.
For more information about the Douglas Dr project or the franchise fees, call Public Works at 763-593-8030.
Past Douglas Drive Improvements
In 2010, a stretch of Douglas Dr from Golden Valley Rd to the northern City limits was resurfaced and re-striped, bringing it from four lanes to two lanes with a center turn lane.
These changes reduced turning conflicts and provided space for bike users off the sidewalks and out of traffic lanes, all issues that were identified in the City’s Douglas Dr Corridor study.
To accommodate the lane reconfigurations and some intersection improvements, Hennepin County also placed an asphalt overlay on Douglas Dr from St Croix Ave north to 51st Place in Crystal. The City of Golden Valley also sealcoated Douglas Dr between Golden Valley Rd and St Croix Ave.
