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Staff recommends further study of northern alignments for Inkstrom–Trunk connector; residents back southern alternative
Summary
Staff presented a draft route-selection report for the Inkstrom (Angstrom) Road–Trunk Road connector, recommending further field work on two northern alternatives that score best on traffic benefits despite higher cost and wetland impacts; residents and a community council urged the lower-cost southern alignment, citing safety and right-of-way willingness.
Cole Branham, the borough’s project management division manager, presented the draft route-selection report for the Inkstrom Road to Trunk Road corridor, describing five alternatives (Southern, Northern 1 and 2, Stone Creek–Aspen Ridge, and No Build), the project purpose and need, and planning-level cost and traffic modeling through 2050.
Branham summarized that the Southern alignment is the shortest and least expensive of the build alternatives with an estimated planning-level cost of about $10 million, crossing fewer parcels but sitting less than a half-mile north of the Bogard–Inkstrom intersection. Northern Route 1 and Northern Route 2 were each roughly two miles and carried higher cost estimates (about $20 million) and greater wetland and stream impacts but produced the largest reductions in future delay at the Inkstrom–Bogard intersection in the borough’s traffic model.
From public outreach, Branham said about 114 people attended a project open house and the team received 36 comments; roughly 80% of commenters then favored a Northern route. Still, North Lakes Community Council representative Rod Hansen and several residents advocated for the Southern route because it could shift gravel-haul traffic off the most congested section of Bogard and because some parcel owners along the Southern alignment indicated willingness to provide right-of-way.
Branham said the draft report recommends advancing Northern Route 1 and 2 for further analysis in field reconnaissance (surveys, geotechnical and hydraulic studies) before a final selection is brought to the assembly. He also said the $10 million Southern estimate did not assume any private contributions; while staff have spoken with the gravel operator about potential help, there were no commitments that could be counted in the report’s planning-level cost numbers.
Assembly members asked about farmland impacts and how many parcels each route would affect (Southern ~7; Northern R1 ~12; Northern R2 ~17; Stone Creek ~19), whether eminent-domain risk was likely, and whether a privately funded alignment could materially reduce borough costs. Borough staff said they try to avoid eminent domain, but large projects sometimes require negotiation and, if necessary, condemnation decisions would be made by the governing body later in the process.
No decision was made; staff will review comments on the draft report, pursue targeted field work on the recommended northern alternatives, and return to the assembly with a final selection and a resolution for future action as funding allows.
