County, city and MnDOT outline safety upgrades at County Road 50 and Trunk Highway 61; roundabout favored, $2.6 million in grants secured
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Summary
Ryan Haves, Washington County project manager, briefed the Forest Lake City Council on proposed safety improvements at the County Road 50 and Trunk Highway 61 intersection, noting two construction grants totaling just over $2.6 million and presenting two build alternatives: a signal and a single‑lane roundabout.
Ryan Haves, Washington County project manager, briefed the Forest Lake City Council on proposed safety improvements at the intersection of County Road 50 and Trunk Highway 61, saying the project is intended to reduce crash frequency and improve multimodal access.
Haves said the county has secured two construction grants for the project — “a regional solicitation grant for just over $1,600,000, and the Minnesota Department of Transportation local partnership program grant for another million dollars,” totaling just over $2,600,000. He described two design alternatives that were modeled in the traffic study: a signalized intersection and a single‑lane roundabout, and noted a three‑leg configuration would also function if the west leg is removed.
“Both the signalized intersection as well as the roundabout are able to handle future traffic, with the roundabout offering less side‑street delay and lower speeds for all vehicles,” Haves said, summarizing the study findings and public feedback.
Why it matters: the intersection lies on Trunk Highway 61, a high‑speed (50 mph) north–south corridor adjacent to the Hardwood Creek Regional Trail. Councilors emphasized pedestrian safety and access for nearby development parcels; a roundabout was repeatedly noted for its speed‑reducing benefit, while some council members said a traffic signal could offer clearer pedestrian stopping points.
Council discussion focused on access and pedestrian crossings. Councilor Larson asked whether future development would still have full access to a northeast corner lot if a median or right‑in/right‑out configuration were required; Haves said developers and the county anticipate right‑in/right‑out access in that location under either build option. Councilors also asked whether rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs) would be installed at roundabout crossings. County staff said RRFBs would not be the default on the single‑lane roundabout the team is studying but that they would evaluate pedestrian treatments as part of the multi‑agency design.
Schedule and funding: Haves presented an initial schedule that anticipates final design and environmental work through 2026–27 and construction in 2028. He said the county had already advanced one regional solicitation award from a 2029 construction year to 2028; accelerating construction further would require partner agencies to front money until reimbursement is available. “It could be expedited if there was a strong desire and we could come up with some kind of partnership on funding,” Haves said.
What’s next: staff said they will return to the council for a formal resolution of support once the project team recommends a preferred alternative and completes the MnDOT approval layout. Council members encouraged continued public outreach and asked staff and the county to study pedestrian‑focused lighting and crossing visibility as designs move forward.
The council did not take a formal vote on a preferred alternative at this meeting; the presentation was positioned as an information and feedback session.
