Contract awarded on two Coon Rapids collector street projects
by Peter Bodley
Managing Editor
A contract has been awarded by the Coon Rapids City Council for two of four collector street reconstruction projects planned for this year.
The council approved a low bid from North Valley Inc. totaling $814,392.59 for upgrading two streets that intersect – Xeon Street from Northdale Boulevard to 121st Avenue and on 121st from Bluebird to Olive streets.
There were four bids submitted and the engineer’s estimate was $905,800.
According to City Engineer Doug Vierzba, North Valley Inc. will begin work July 25 with project completion scheduled by Sept. 15.
“North Valley Inc. has done a good job on several street reconstruction projects in the past for the city,” Vierzba said.
“It already has the two residential reconstruction contracts in the city and is capable of performing well on this contract.”
Because this and the other two collector street projects will be partially paid from the city’s state aid street account, which derives its revenues from the state gas tax, approval of the plans was required from the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT).
That occurred before the state government shutdown, but the city cannot draw any money from the state aid street account during the shutdown, Vierzba said.
That means the city will have to front the cost of this project for sure as well as the other two projects if the GOP legislative majority and Gov. Mark Dayton have not agreed on a budget solution by the time they start later this summer, he said.
The four projects combined are expected to require some $1.5 million in state aid dollars, Vierzba said.
“The city finance director has indicated that the city can handle the cash flow situation,” he said.
As well as approving the contract, the council also approved the assessments for each street.
On Xeon, the city will assess $58,227 of the cost to 40 benefiting properties, including several duplexes, a few townhouse units, Loft Homes and the Mary T development.
For the 121st Avenue segment, assessments total $33,676.56. There are five-single-family homes and 54 townhouse units being assessed.
In both cases, the assessments will show up on property owners’ 2012 property tax statement unless paid in full within 30 days.
The project encompasses 1.3 miles.
Separate from the reconstruction contract, the city is hoping that Burlington-Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railroad will upgrade the railroad crossing on 121st at the same time the road is under construction.
It makes sense to do so because the road has to be closed while work on the railroad crossing takes place, according to Vierzba.
But there is a potential snag. Vierzba has sent all the necessary paperwork, including the city’s cost-sharing agreement, to BNSF, but has heard nothing back, he said.
And because the city’s share will come from state aid street funds, MnDOT has to approve the BNSF plans for the crossing work, Vierzba said.
Those plans won’t be considered by MnDOT during the state government shutdown, he said.
The council is scheduled to award a contract July 19 for the reconstruction project on 121st Avenue, west of Hanson Boulevard, a half-mile segment.
Assuming the contract is approved, work will start the first week of August with completion in mid to late September, Vierzba said.
Plans have been approved by the council and bids ordered for the fourth collector street project on Pheasant Ridge Drive from Coon Rapids Boulevard to 119th Avenue.
Those bids will be considered by the council at its Aug. 3 meeting with construction to start on the 0.6 of a mile segment in mid-August with completion in early October.
Peter Bodley is at
peter.bodley@ecm-inc.com
