Oak Grove approves Cedar Drive state‑aid road project; estimate about $1.9 million

The Oak Grove City Council unanimously approved moving forward with Cedar Drive Northwest as the city’s next state‑aid project and authorized staff to pursue the project schedule and bidding amendments at the July 28 meeting.

Public works staff said the damaged segment runs from the city’s southern limits north to Viking and that sections near Swan Lake sit on a high water table with culverts that are largely full of water. Initial cost estimates provided to the council were about $1,900,000. Staff told the council the city currently has roughly $1.8 million in its construction account, and additional state aid and scheduled gas‑tax allocations would provide more funding.

Council members asked staff to include a 50‑foot additional paving extension near Swan Lake to cut down on gravel tracking and to perform a geotechnical investigation before final design because soils and standing groundwater could change the constructability and cost. Public works staff said the next step was to solicit quotes for a geotechnical study and return with refined numbers and recommendations.

The council voted to approve the project motion with the amendments; Council member Bridal made the motion and Council member Wylie seconded. The motion passed 4‑0.

Staff also reviewed the city’s state‑aid funding split and noted that roughly 25% of gas‑tax receipts flow directly to the city for maintenance and the remaining 75% are held in a state account for larger state projects. Council members discussed potential scope changes and the need to add culvert replacements and minor driveway paving as part of the design.

No additional appropriations were authorized at the meeting; staff will return with geotechnical results and updated construction estimates.