Right of way purchases deemed appropriate

City officials are proposing to extend Spring Creek Avenue North to Tyler Road North, a project that would require Red Wing to buy a house and part of a field that are between the two roads.

The proposed project, which would cost upwards of $800,000, would provide a safer way into town for nearby residents, Red Wing Director of Engineering Ron Rosenthal said.

For residents in the Spring Creek North neighborhood, driving to downtown Red Wing requires turning left onto Highway 61, which can be tricky at times.

"It's a bad angle for one thing," Rosenthal said of the intersection at Spring Creek Avenue and Highway 61. "Plus with the amount of traffic that's there, you about have to play chicken to get out of there."

The owner of the house at 3436 Lake St. is willing to sell the property needed to do the project, Rosenthal said. Buying the house would cost Red Wing $197,000.

Rosenthal said the owner of the field behind the house is also willing to sell a tract of land necessary to connect the roads, but it's unclear how much it will cost to buy that land.

City Council is set to vote Monday on whether to proceed with the project.

Red Wing Advisory Planning Commission on Tuesday made a recommendation to the council in favor of the project. Commissioners said it jives with Red Wing's comprehensive plan.

If council approves it, money to fund the project would come from the city's assessment fund. Rosenthal said the fund could shoulder the costs even though only a portion of the money spent will be recouped by assessments residents would pay for street improvements.

The proposed project is part of a larger plan to overhaul intersections along that stretch of Highway 61 in order to make them safer.

But city officials say they need to garner special federal or state funds to proceed with the entire project because the city would be required to buy millions of dollars worth of right of way.

The city is considering moving forward with the smaller project at this time because the property owners are willing to sell, Rosenthal said.

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