Council Moves Forward with Woodbury Drive Expansion Project

Woodbury Drive is one step closer to being a four-lane highway with two new roundabouts following the City Council’s actions Wednesday night.

The council unanimously voted in favor of ordering the project and entering a cooperative agreement with Washington County.

Plans call for the road to be expanded from two lanes to four from Park Crossing to a quarter mile south of Bailey Road. at Bailey and Lake roads.

Of the approximately $14 million cost of the project, about $3.5 million would fall to the city. However, more than $2 million of that figure will come from state aid funds, and about $243,000 will be paid through assessments, the bulk of that coming from the two nearby churches and . (An assessment hearing will be held at a later date.)

One resident spoke during a public hearing on the matter. Kelly Monkman, representing the business park at Woodbury Drive and Lake Road, expressed his concerns over cut-through traffic and reduced access once a raised median is built. What will happen to an existing irrigation system was also an issue for Monkman.

Community Development Director Dwight Picha said that when the business park was initially approved, there was an understanding that it would eventually have only right-in, right-out access from Woodbury Drive.

David Jessup, director, said those businesses could put in speed bumps as part of an effort to reduce people trying to avoid the roundabout.

Mayor Mary Giuliani Stephens, meanwhile, said the roundabout at the intersection could reduce the need for people to cut through.

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