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Council asks staff for design and pricing on limestone-rock barrier after cars struck homeowner’s yard
Summary
After two incidents of drivers plowing off the 235 offramp into a homeowner’s backyard near 63rd Street, Windsor Heights staff proposed a limestone-rock barrier (estimated $15,000–$45,000); council asked staff to refine design and pricing for next year’s budget or earlier consideration.
City staff raised safety concerns at the Oct. 7 council meeting after recounting two incidents in which impaired drivers left the 235 offramp and entered a homeowner’s property adjacent to 63rd Street (incidents in 2015 and 2024). Staff described options including extending the median (costly, ADA implications), metal bollards (per DOT pricelist, relatively expensive) and placing limestone boulders or farm boulders as a roadside barrier.
Justin (staff) said the limestone option returned a preliminary cost range between $15,000 and $45,000 depending on landscaping and anchoring details and that the DOT indicated permitting would be required because the work would occur in city right-of-way.
Council members expressed support for a safety-focused solution while raising maintenance and long-term responsibility questions. One member raised concerns about who would maintain plantings and whether the city would absorb maintenance work. Another suggested minimizing landscaping and focusing on a simple, low-maintenance barrier. Council asked staff to return with a defined conceptual design, clearer pricing, maintenance plan and permit pathway for inclusion in the next fiscal-year budget or earlier if warranted.
Staff noted the property sits in city right-of-way, DOT permitting is necessary, and private options may be difficult given the drop-off of the site; the city will present a more detailed proposal with cost and design alternatives for council consideration.
Next steps: staff to refine options (boulders, spacing, anchoring), obtain permitting guidance from DOT, and present design and price ranges for budget consideration.
