NORTH MANKATO — If a major flood were to hit, the intersection of Lee Boulevard and Lookout Drive — at the bottom of Lookout Drive and the start of the Judson Bottom Road — would be flooded because of a gap in the levy wall.
That would require the city to try to build a temporary dike to close the gap. But the supplies the city has long had on hand to build a dike are obsolete and need to be replaced, according to city staff.
The City Council Monday night directed City Administrator Kevin McCann to apply for a Unified Planning Work Program study to begin next year that would include looking at the feasibility of raising the intersection to allow it to stay open during a major flood. It will also study building a roundabout at the intersection.
“The city believes it is reasonable to investigate improvements that will eliminate the need (for a temporary dike,)” staff reported to the council.
Public Works Director Luke Arnold said raising the intersection would protect it from a 100 year level flood, something that hasn’t yet been seen in modern history.
But elevating the intersection would have other impacts that need to be looked at.
The approach from the Judson Bottom Road would be altered as would the intersection of South Avenue with Lee Boulevard (next to the back side of City Hall), which provide access to business on the west and residential areas to the east.
The study would also look at long-term intersection control at the intersection “as the existing signal is antiquated and requires replacement.”
A 2017 study recommended building at least a single-lane roundabout at the intersection in the future. The new study would look harder at a roundabout. “This will include further examination of grades, roundabout placement, approach angles, pedestrian crossing location, and other concerns,” staff said.
While the study will be focused on the intersection, it will include looking at potential improvements to the entire stretch of Lee Boulevard, from Belgrade Avenue, next to City Hall, up the hill and then west to Lookout Drive near South Central College.