This summer Crow Wing County will be undertaking improvements to Co. Rd. 11 between Pequot Lakes and Breezy Point. The primary focus of the improvements was to be a mill and overlay of the two driving lanes. They also however decided this was a good opportunity to look at short term and long term needs for this corridor. A Task Force was established that included representatives from Breezy Point, Pequot Lakes, Pequot Lakes School District, Ideal and Jenkins Townships.
The Task Force has looked at the areas along this strength of highway and identified those areas that are problematic from a traffic flow and safety concern. A traffic engineer from Bolton and Menk has worked with the Task Force to develop concepts that could and will improve the corridor. Improvements that are considered to be built include a new intersection layout at Ranchette with left and right turn lanes, turning lanes at the school entrance/Edgewater Farm Drive, a bypass lane at the ice arena and the potential for other improvements as funding provides.
There are a number of issues that have been encountered along the way. Some of these are yet to be resolved and a few have seen resolution. One of these was the right-of-way on Edgewater Farm Drive. When the school was established the entrance at the school was off set from that of Edgewater Farm Drive. By this I mean the roadways in the intersection did not align directly across from each other. With a configuration such as this there are numerous points of conflict with traffic flow. At the time of establishment it was not felt that this would be a problem by some. As development occurred however, more and more traffic was generated causing a good deal of problems with this non-alignment.
Recognizing the problem the city worked with the land owners, Pelican Development of Breezy Point, LLC to gain an easement and the roadway was moved to provide for the proper alignment. This easement was temporary in nature and was due to expire in September of 2013. With the proposed roadway improvements the county was anticipating, a more permanent solution was needed.
Pelican Development of Breezy Point, LLC has given the city the necessary easement to continue with the alignment at the Eagle View Elementary School. Neal Narveson and Mike Wiebolt are the owners of this property. These local businessmen saw the need in the community and fulfilled that need. On behalf of the City of Breezy Point I want to thank them for their community service in fulfilling that need.
