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- BARRICADES UP: Barricades were set up across East Franklin Avenue on each side of the bridge over Highway 35W mid-September 2017 to safely allow the demolition of that Franklin Avenue Bridge for dramatic changes to Highway 35W below and a new Franklin Avenue Bridge. See details on Ventura Village News on Page 5 of this issue of The Alley Newspaper. Photo credit: Harvey Winje
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- BARRICADES DOWN: Barricades will be taken down on East 25th St. east of the Super America convenience store driveway placed there a decade ago as means of interrupting illicit drug and human trafficking at the intersection. The barricades will now be removed and one block made a One-Way street and a Traffic Circle technique employed at 17th Av to affect control. Photo credit: Harvey Winje
To Barricade or not to Barricade
We now have the answer
BY CAROL PASS
In spite of overwhelming Neighborhood, Police and City support for removing the Barricades between Bloomington Ave. and 16th Ave. S. on E 25th St., a third community meeting on the question was called on Aug. 30. A community vote was finally taken and the outcome was nearly unanimous.
The long and the short of the decision is that in mid-September, probably before this issue of the Alley comes out, the city will take down the barricades, ending the decade- long experiment. This will be coordinated with fall street sweeping to clean up the area. In addition, if all goes according to the community”'s stated desires, E. 25th St. will be made a West bound one-way between 16th Avenue So. and Bloomington Ave. with no parking on the North side of the block and Permit Only Parking temporary Traffic Circle was decided upon for the intersection of E. 25th St. and 17th Ave. S. to slow traffic. The temporary Traffice Circle was installed Sept.20th. The Super America store on Bloomington Av. at 25th St. will try to coordinate a one-way traffic flow through its station to accommodate the one way on E. 25th St.
EPIC and the community will attempt to raise the $10,000 dollars to make the traffic circle permanent. Donations for this purpose will be sought and appreciated. Checks may be made payable to EPIC with “Traffic Circle” in the memo line and sent to EPIC, 2536 18thAve. S., Mpls., MN 55404.
The community hopes that these changes will help alleviate the drug and prostitution scene currently ensconced there and that neighbors will once again be able to walk to and from the store safely.
Carol Pass is a Phillips resident and President of East Phillips Improvement Coalition
A Traffic Circle at East 25th St. and 17th Av. agreed upon by neighbors, City of Mpls. and Mpls. continuing efforts starting 10 years ago to affect change in illicit drug & human trafficking. A temporary version of the island and signage has been installed as l. looking eastward and r. looking westward on East 25th St.
