Wagon Wheel Trail Project in Mendota Heights Approved, Modified

The Wagon Wheel Trail road reconstruction project that mobilized numerous residents of the Rogers Lake neighborhood in opposition was approved by the Mendota Heights City Council with modifications Dec. 7.

Those who opposed the project said that they want to preserve the rural feel of the road and discourage additional, faster traffic. Supporters argued that the new road will better align with city standards and improve safety.

Wagon Wheel Trail resident Rita Lahtonen presented the council a slide show documenting her efforts to gather a petition against the project and identify alternatives. She argued that she had a majority of signatures from the affected property owners opposing the project, but many of them did not attend the meeting. "A lot of them are feeling council is going to vote for this no matter what we do," said Lahtonen.

The condition of Wagon Wheel Trail is considered the second-worst in the city by the public works department, and it has been identified as the city's top 2011 street reconstruction project.

Wagon Wheel was first built as a paved county road in 1966. It received a fresh surface in 1986 when it was designated a city street rather than a county thoroughfare.

The project will reconstruct the road in the Rogers Lake neighborhood from Lexington Avenue South to Dodd Road. The affected properties on Wagon Wheel Trail will be assessed 26 percent of the project cost, or $8,500 per unit. Homeowners have the option of having the cost assessed onto their property taxes and amortized over the next 19 years at a six percent interest rate, for a total payment of $13,702. 

To comply with city policy, the asphalt road, which varies wildly in width, will be rebuilt 33-feet across including one lane of parking. However, at each intersection with Swan Court, Rogers Court, and Alice Lane, the parking will now end and the road will narrow to 26 feet across, trimming the visual field to discourage speeders. City Engineer John Mazzitello said the same technique has been a success on First Avenue, which was reconstructed in 2008.

In another concession, an eight-foot wide asphalt trail planned on the north side of the road will end at the western edge of the 35E bridge, rather than cutting through property with non-conforming setbacks to Lexington. The trail, separated from the roadway by a four-foot boulevard, will begin no further than four feet from the northern curb edge.

Despite the concessions, the entire project from the southern curb to the northern edge of the trail is still too wide, said Scott Miller, who said the road will look more like "Wagon Wheel Highway."

"People are going to freak out when they see it," said Miller after the hearing.

The council did not budge on the subject of traditional concrete curb and gutter, which some residents said would destroy the road's ambience. Surmountable curb was initially offered as a halfway point between the two schools of thought, but was generally rejected because of its poor performance in storm sewer systems and the additional space it would take from people's yards. 

The city also plans to replace the asphalt cover on Swan Court, Rogers Court and Alice Lane, bringing these roadways up to a nine-ton standard. Residents affected by the replacement will be assessed $2,515. The cul de sacs already have curb and gutter.

In a concession to Alice Lane residents, the 10-year-old circle at the end of Alice Lane will only undergo a mill-and-overlay, instead of a full pavement replacement like the rest of the 20-year old road. The change will save property owners on the circle $1,325.

Resident Dale Johnson owns two undeveloped lots on Alice Lane's circle. 'The whole thing is not deteriorated at all," said Johnson. He sent a letter to the city suggesting that Alice Lane's reconstruction be put off entirely until the next time Wagon Wheel is repaved.

The project will also make improvements to the storm sewer and replace fire hydrants. It will be built to a nine-ton standard to receive municipal state aid funding. The trail costs $112,702 and will be bonded for. The trail is not part of the assessment.

Ultimately, the council voted unanimously to approve the project with the cinched intersections, limited trail, and partial mill and overlay of Alice Lane.

"The city does need to maintain its infrastructure, " said Mayor John Huber. "In our northern climate, there's only so much work we can do in a given calendar year." He said that despite the economy, it was still important to pursue the project, making the case that the city will never be able to secure 19 years of good economy to ensure that residents don't pay assessments during a downturn.

He also said it was a matter of fairness to other residents in different parts of towns that have paid to have their roads improved.

Assessments are anticipated to be approved in mid-October of 2011, at which time residents will have 30 days to pay them partially or in full at city hall, after which time they will be assessed to the county.