BLAINE – (July 16, 2020) – Blaine officials say a dangerous intersection needs to be fixed, but they want a better deal with the county on how to share the cost. City Council members describe the crossing of Xylite Road and Radisson Road as a dangerous intersection. They call it a public safety problem that should be repaired sooner rather than later. But they believe Anoka County should pay more of the cost. Council member Andy Garvais objected to a plan where the city would pay for 75 percent of new traffic lights at an intersection the county shares.
“We all want this intersection done. It’s a dangerous intersection,” Garvais said. “All we are asking is for the county to acknowledge that half of this project is their road, and that our City of Blaine residents pay county taxes and they should pay for 50 percent of this signal.”
Garvais says after a meeting with county officials, there was no quick resolution. Garvais says there are as many as ten intersections that need improvements so the cost will add up. Anoka County officials say they will compare how other metro counties share costs with cities on similar road projects to see whether the Anoka County method is fair.
County Commissioner Jeff Reinert told us, “Anoka County pays for a lot of expense involved with these types of projects including engineering cost and purchase of right-of-way that other counties do not.” He said that may be the reason the final split may not look equitable.
Reinert said after the comparison study is finished, they may meet with Blaine officials again.
In the meantime, Blaine officials say the city may decide to go ahead with the project on Xylite because of concerns for public safety.
