Representatives of the Poplar Lake Area Association (PLAA) and the Mid-Trail Property Owners Association and three resorts from the mid-Gunflint Trail met Thursday, August 26 with Cook County Highway Engineer David Betts to discuss their long-standing concerns about excessive speed and other safety issues along an approximately 3.5 mile stretch of the Gunflint Trail. The congested stretch currently has signs posted with a speed limit of 40 mph. Theposted section begins just before the Ugly Baby boat rental, Loon’s Nest, and Trail Center restaurant. Dr. Robert Hyatt, former president of Mid-Trail Property Owners, calculates a total of 78 business and residence entrances in the 3.5- mile span.
Doug Graham, president of PLAA, described the danger of increasing traffic, passing on double lines, and excessive speed by cars, trucks, and vehicles pulling boats. “We’ve got to do something before somebody gets hurt or killed,” he said.
Luana Brandt of Nor’wester Lodge, said it’s “our neighbors, not just tourists” who see a straight stretch ahead from her resort and speed up, even though the reduced speed area continues. Sarah Hamilton, owner of Trail Center, said it’s not uncommon to see drivers exceeding 60 mph in an area where “hundreds of people walk across the highway every day.” Mike Sherfy of neighboring Rockwood Lodge also reported seeing speeds of 60 mph and more in the area posted at 40 mph.
Betts said he is aware of the problem and is trying to come up with some solutions, but he also noted some complicating factors, including those involved in lowering reduced speed limits even further. For one thing, changing speed limits on county highways is not within local government control. Local government must first request the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDOT) to do a speed study to change the speed limit. Russ Klegstad, county highway maintenance supervisor, said studies undertaken by request of the local government in hopes of lowering a speed limit often turn out to support raising the limit. Nonetheless, Betts said, there are mechanisms for measuring traffic both by number and by speed of vehicles and using these mechanisms at the beginning, middle, and end of the corridor during peak traffic periods would yield useful data.
Betts is also aware that mid-Trail citizens and businesses have recommended placing reduced speed signs at more frequent intervals in the mid-Trail corridor and have recommended different spacing—such as giving advance warning of congested areas and reduced speed limits. But signage has its limits, he said. He cautioned that if too many signs are posted, drivers ignore them. “There’s a psychology to signage,” said Betts.
At press time, the mid-Trail group had scheduled a meeting with Cook County Sheriff Mark Falk on Thursday, September 9. Thegroup said they want to talk to Sheriff Falk to get his perspective on how best to apply limited law enforcement resources to the problem.
Residents and resorters at the Thursday meeting will explore whether they might be able to design some attractive and engaging signs asking for drivers’ cooperation in slowing down. Thiswill be done in cooperation with the Gunflint Trail Scenic Byway Committee.
Reached by phone at press time, County Engineer Betts said he would also be attending that meeting with the sheriff. He said he had been in contact with Mn/DOT to request a speed study. He said, “We’ll continue to work on the issue and we’ll keep the residents apprised of what we’re planning.”
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