Show All Answers

1. What is the proposed scope of the project?

The project includes: 

• pavement replacement throughout the neighborhood; 
• watermain replacement under all roads in the project area, with the exception of Foxboro Court and sections of Montrose Road, Queens Drive and Cameroon Drive, which was replaced in the 1990s; 
• water and sanitary service replacement for all homes from the main to the right-of-way line;
• existing trail rehabilitation on Queens Drive and Afton Road; 
• new trail construction on Queens Drive, Montrose Road, Courtly Road and Afton Road; 
• concrete curb and gutter replacement; 
• storm sewer improvements and replacement; and 
• sanitary sewer lining and replacement.

2. How do I request a rain garden in my yard?

If you would like your yard considered for a rain garden, please send an email to Mike Hejna or call 651-714-3593. Rain gardens will be installed as part of the project and maintained for 3 years during the establishment period. Following establishment, rain gardens will be maintained by the residents. Rain gardens will only be installed where requested. 

3. Who maintains the trail?

The city will be responsible for all maintenance of the trail, including snow removal, pothole patching, crack sealing and pavement replacement. 

4. Why trails and not sidewalks?

Staff is recommending 8-10 foot trails rather than 5 foot sidewalks. The roads being recommended for trails are either residential collector roadways or neighborhood roads with connectivity to major pedestrian generators including Ojibway Park, Chippewa Park, and Royal Oaks Elementary School. Feedback from the neighborhood last year indicated concerns for snow removal on sidewalks, and if trails are constructed residents are not responsible for snow removal. Trails also allow for two way bike traffic, which is expected based on the parks and schools located in the neighborhood.

The final design will look at opportunities to shift the roadway to reduce impacts on the side of the road with the proposed trail. 

5. Can the trails be concrete rather than asphalt?

Staff recommends asphalt trails due to the smooth pavement surface asphalt offers (no joints in asphalt), reduced potential for root heaving of the pavement compared to concrete panels, future maintenance considerations and life cycle costs. Trails are being recommended to better accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians along with providing an adequate width for city equipment to provide snow removal when compared to 5-foot wide sidewalks. 

6. What are the plans for traffic calming in Royal Oaks?

Staff is evaluating potential traffic calming measures throughout the neighborhood and will present recommendations at the Aug. 23 neighborhood meeting. 

7. Will crosswalks be added in the neighborhood?

Crosswalk enhancements are being considered with the traffic calming measures and will be presented at the Aug. 23 meeting. 

8. How will I access my home/mailbox during construction?

Construction will be phased to minimize impacts to property owners, but each phase will likely take approximately two months. During construction, there will be times when your driveway is not accessible for vehicles. Residents will be notified of temporary parking locations and timing through door hanger notices and InTouch email updates during construction. A hotline will also be available for residents to contact with any questions or concerns. 

Residents with special access needs should contact the Engineering Department prior to construction. Staff will work with residents with concerns individually to ensure needs are met. 

Temporary mailboxes will be provided during construction and will be coordinated with the Woodbury Post Office. The location of temporary mailboxes will change throughout construction and residents will be notified of their location with door hangers and InTouch email updates. 

9. When will my street be reconstructed?

Phasing and timing of construction have not yet been determined, but the project is anticipated to take place in the summer of 2023 and 2024. The phasing plan will be available to residents prior to construction in the spring 2023, and each phase will take approximately two months. Minimal work is expected to take place between November 2023 and April 2024; all roads are anticipated be open during the winter. 

10. How will I know if my trees are impacted? Will the city replace it?

A list of trees likely to be impacted will be available at the Aug. 23 neighborhood meeting and on the project website following the meeting. All trees removed due to construction will be replaced by the city. Any ash tree previously removed will also be replaced with the project. Residents will have an opportunity to choose from a selection of species, or may elect to have the city choose the species. If you had a tree removed, contact the Engineering Department to discuss preferred species. 

11. Will roads be narrowed?

Staff is proposing that the streets with trails would be narrowed from 32 feet to 28 feet, including Queens Drive, Montrose Road and Courtly Road. Restricted street parking is not being recommended with the project. The standard width for new roads in the city is 28 feet, and there are approximately 75 miles of 28-foot roads with parking on both sides existing within the city. Narrowing roads has been shown to be an effective way to decrease vehicle speeds while maintaining the same function as 32-foot wide roadways. If vehicles are parked on both sides of a 32-foot wide roadway or a 28-foot wide roadway, each design only allows adequate width for one lane in the middle of the roadway for vehicles to travel. The 28-foot width has proven to provide adequate emergency services access with the occurrence of parking along both sides of neighborhood roadways. 

12. How can we petition for sidewalks?

Residents should contact the city directly if they are interested in adding sidewalks to their street. Staff would consider sidewalks on other streets if a consensus from affected property owners in favor of sidewalks can be achieved. 

13. Why are curbs being replaced?

Although some curb does not require replacement based on its current condition, all curb will be removed due to the proposed watermain and service replacement. Replacing watermain and services requires a large excavation through the existing curb requiring its replacement. 

14. How will water be provided to homes during watermain construction?

Temporary water lines will be provided to homeowners during construction. There will be temporary water shutoffs (approximately eight hours each) when the water service is disconnected and again when the service is reconnected. Notice will be provided on homeowners’ doors before the water is shut off along property owners to plan for this disruption. Temporary water will be served through pipes above ground, so the water being provided is anticipated to be warm during the summer days.

15. How much will the project cost and how is it paid for?

Staff is preparing a report for the Aug. 23 neighborhood meeting with updated costs and estimated assessments for the project. In 2021, the estimated project cost was approximately $28 million. A majority of the project will be funded by the city with the remaining costs paid for through special assessments by neighborhood property owners. Special assessments are a charge imposed on properties for a particular improvement that benefits the owners of those selected properties. They are a levy a city uses to finance, or partially finance, a particular public improvement. The amount of the charge bears a direct relationship to the value of the benefit the property receives.