Washington County approves multiple pavement‑preservation contracts and related budget amendments

The Washington County Board of Commissioners on June 17, 2025 approved a set of public‑works contracts and associated budget amendments that will fund pavement preservation, design and planning work across several county highways.

The board approved a construction contract for County State Aid Highway 15 (Manning Avenue) with OMG Midwest Inc., doing business as Minnesota Paving & Materials (contract number 17461) for a low bid of $2,127,025.58. Public Works described the project as a mill‑and‑overlay and trail resurfacing corridor from Trunk Highway 36 to 80th Street in the cities of Stillwater and Grant. Improvements include ADA ramp upgrades, replacement of signs and pavement markings, and maintenance of one lane of traffic in each direction during construction. Public Works indicated the project’s total cost is approximately $2,320,000 and revenue for the project will come from the county wheelage tax. The board approved the contract on voice vote; the motion was moved by Commissioner Cox and seconded by Commissioner Bigham.

The board approved a design services contract with Stonebrook Engineering (contract number 17427, $272,462) for the County Highway 38 pavement preservation project and approved a budget amendment to increase the RB‑2204 planning and design budget by approximately $307,900 using previously budgeted but unspent highway state aid funds. Public Works said County Highway 38 is a four‑mile urban corridor crossing multiple jurisdictions (Saint Paul Park, Newport and portions of Ramsey County where Washington County is the road authority under Minnesota Statute 162.02). The project scope includes asphalt resurfacing (constrained where concrete pavement remains in good condition), design and replacement of approximately 23 pedestrian ramps to current ADA standards, trail resurfacing and drainage/stormwater review. The contract and budget amendment passed on voice vote.

For County Highway 13 (Inwood Avenue North) in Lake Elmo, the board approved a construction contract with Bituminous Roadways Inc. (contract number 17443) for the pavement reclamation and improvement project. The low bid recorded in the meeting transcript was $2,380,518; Public Works said anticipated project expenses including a standard 7% contingency total $2,547,154. The scope includes full‑depth reclamation, adding two left‑turn lanes at an intersection, replacement of signs and pavement marking, culvert and stormwater upgrades, and vertical adjustments at a Fifteenth Street intersection to improve drainage and safety. Funding sources listed for the project include state aid, wheelage tax and the Transportation Advancement Account. The board approved the contract on a roll/voice vote after a motion by Commissioner Cottes and a second by Commissioner Cox.

The board also approved a consultant contract (number 17469) with Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. (SEH) in the amount of $678,625.44 to advance planning, environmental documentation and engineering for the County Road 19A (100th Street) realignment project in the southern portion of Washington County (Cottage Grove). Public Works said the county and city of Cottage Grove have secured more than $13.6 million in state and federal grants toward construction and that the consultant phase will analyze alignment refinements to reduce cost, environmental impacts and utility conflicts (including coordination with CPKC railroad and major utility owners). The board approved a cooperative cost agreement with the city of Cottage Grove (agreement number 17428) and approved a budget amendment to increase the RB‑2685 planning and design budget by $250,000 using previously budgeted unspent state aid as the county share for the consultant contract.

Public Works representatives and commissioners discussed pavement condition index (PCI) scores and the rationale for near‑term preservation versus later reconstruction. The County Highway 15 corridor PCI was reported in the yellow range (61–75 for roadway); County Highway 38 segments had PCI 47–58; County Highway 13 PCI ranged from 25–39 and was described as in need of a reclamation approach. Commissioners asked about construction timing and coordination with MnDOT and local cities, lighting at a specific intersection on County Highway 13, drainage near Farney Creek and project impacts on adjacent jurisdictions; staff said further coordination and permitting will occur during design and construction phases.

Summary of formal actions taken (all motions carried): - Contract 17461 with OMG Midwest Inc. (Minnesota Paving & Materials) for County Highway 15 roadway improvements: approved (low bid $2,127,025.58). - Budget amendment to increase RB‑2204 planning/design by $307,900 using unspent highway state aid for County Highway 38: approved. - Contract 17427 with Stonebrook Engineering for County Highway 38 design ($272,462): approved. - Contract 17443 with Bituminous Roadways Inc. for County Highway 13 Inwood Avenue North improvement project (low bid recorded $2,380,518): approved. - Contract 17469 with Short Elliott Hendrickson (SEH) for County Road 19A / 100th Street realignment planning and engineering ($678,625.44): approved. - Cooperative cost agreement 17428 with the City of Cottage Grove for CR‑19A work: approved. - Budget amendment to increase RB‑2685 planning and design budget by $250,000 using previously budgeted unspent highway state aid (county share for SEH contract): approved.

Public Works characterized the set of actions as part of the county’s RB‑2204 pavement preservation program and RB‑2685 regional corridor program; staff said pending amendments and the three projects before the board this afternoon would leave the RB‑2204 program balance at roughly $241,000 after the approved actions.

Contracts approved and budget amendments adopted will move projects into design or construction. Several projects cited the need for additional permitting (MnDOT crossings on County Highway 38) and coordination with utilities and the railroad for the County Road 19A alignment; staff said environmental documentation and utility coordination are part of the forthcoming work.