Council adopts 2026 roads capital plan; municipal state-aid balance, Viking Blvd turn lane discussed

The East Bethel City Council approved the 2026—2030 Roads Capital Improvement Plan on May 12, which outlines state-aid and city-funded road projects and will inform the 2026 budget.

Staff reported the municipal state aid (MSA) fund received $757,936 in 2025 and starts 2026 with a projected $394,000 deficit because the city has advanced-funded prior projects (the city may advance fund up to three years). The plan keeps a committed project in 2026 to construct a turn lane on Viking Boulevard at Sand Hill Parkway; staff said the turn lane is required under the earlier development agreement and is expensive because it requires concrete work, shifting lanes and some right-of-way acquisition. Staff said some right-of-way work and design has already been completed.

The plan lists mill-and-overlay work for Polk-Jackson (near the elementary schools) in 2027, Briarwood Avenue in 2028, and placeholders for additional overlays in later years. The street capital fund (general fund portion) will include a request for increased transfers to rebuild fund balance; staff noted an additional $252,000 from the state is earmarked for certain street replacement work and that the net general-fund contribution to roads is approximately $400,000 for 2026.

Councilmembers asked whether the turn lane is on Sand Hill or Viking; staff confirmed the left-turn lane on westbound Viking to turn onto Sand Hill is part of the city's obligation tied to the original agreement. Staff emphasized that individual projects will return to council for project-level approval and bidding.

The council approved the roads CIP by motion with no recorded opposition.