Residents ‘Fired Up’ About Woodbury Drive Project

Residents who live near Woodbury Drive, where the county , are concerned about the nature of the project.

Al Rudnickas, president of the Wedgewood Association, spoke during the open forum portion of Wednesday night’s Woodbury City Council meeting, saying the project is akin to putting a “size 12 foot into a size 8 shoe.”

Washington County plans to expand Woodbury Drive from two lanes to four from north to Park Crossing. The latest plans .

Rudnickas said residents in the area are “fired up” about the project, which faces challenges because of the narrow right-of-way. (The county’s motto for the project is “every foot counts.”)

Rudnickas voiced concerns about the project’s impact on the “look and feel” of the area, and said his neighbors are also worried about pedestrian safety at the roundabouts and the impact of moving snow into their backyards.

He said the homeowners association would like to see the city relax its design guidelines for the project and consider eliminating one of the proposed paths on the side of the road.

Rudnickas also asked the council to look at putting in a stoplight at the Antrim Road intersection, which is not part of the current plans but could be installed at some point. “Why not just do it from the get go?”

The nearly $10 million project is slated to begin in the spring of 2013.

More Woodbury Drive coverage:

• Woodbury Drive Project Slated For 2013
• County Outlines Plans To Expand Woodbury Drive
• Two Roundabouts Planned For Woodbury Drive Expansion