Lino Approves Interchange Plans
Bid Opening Scheduled For April 12
The Lino Lakes City Council unanimously approved the plans and specifi cations for the $10.35 million I-35W/Lake Drive (CSAH 23) Interchange project. This sets the project on track for an April 12 bid opening - the last major hurdle before construction begins late this spring.
At the council workshop of March 5, Community Development Director Michael Grochala reported that recent highway project bids received by MnDOT have been considerably higher than estimates prepared by highway engineers.
The possibility of higher-than-expected construction costs "is the one thing that scares the heck out of me," Grochala said.
Rendering courtesy of SEH
Whether this trend - attributed by some to the aft ermath of Hurricane Katrina and increased crude oil prices - will materially affect the roadway projects scheduled to proceed within the city during this construction season remains to be seen: Anoka County will open bids on the CSAH 14/Main Street reconstruction project next month.
The I-35W/Lake Drive Interchange project will improve 3,500 linear feet of Lake Drive to a 4-lane divided roadway with a bike trail; replace the existing 40-year old bridge with a new 130-foot-wide bridge with four through lanes and associated turn lanes; reconstruct the four interchange ramps; provide signalized intersections at the ramps and at Town Center Parkway; and eliminate a number of accesses onto Lake Drive.
According to Grochala, the project will take place under traffic, with only isolated weekend ramp closings for paving. I-35W will be temporarily closed when the bridge girders are erected. The northbound half of the new bridge will be constructed first; traffic will then be shift ed to the new bridge segment while the southbound bridge half is built. The bridge median will be constructed last.
The Town Center Parkway signal is planned to be operational by October 31 "to create some [traffic] gaps," Grochala said. Substantial completion of the project is expected in June 2008, he noted, with final completion slated for October 2008.
The city's share of the project is estimated at $5.5 million.
According to materials provided by the city, approximately $2.5 million of that amount will come from the Legacy at Woods Edge project; $955,000 of the Trunk Highway 49 turnback funds and monies from the city's Municipal State Aid Street funding account will help off set remaining costs.
Springsted, Inc., the city's bond counsel, and Kennedy & Graven are working with the city to complete financing for the project.