Public Works approves consent calendar that includes contingency request for Minnesota Streetscape after crews hit large tree roots

The Public Works Commission on June 26 approved its consent calendar, which included a request to increase the construction contingency for the Minnesota Streetscape project after crews uncovered large tree roots that conflicted with the planned walkway.

Project manager Jeffrey Jackson told commissioners the contractor encountered tree roots roughly 4 inches in diameter during excavation for the Minnesota Grove section of the project. Jackson said the roots extended well outside the tree’s drip line and could not be cut without risking instability of the tree. To keep the pathway ADA compliant, staff redesigned the alignment, performed additional excavation and grading, adjusted a nearby dry‑stack stone wall and installed additional boulders to stabilize a soil embankment.

"The tree roots were in conflict with where we had planned our ADA compliant pedestrian pathway," Jackson said. He described a dry‑stack wall used as a guideway and to retain soil and vegetation, and he presented photos of the roots and the revised, "pinched" path alignment.

Jackson said the department requested a 20% increase to the construction contingency. Of that request, he told the commission the team expects to use about 12%—"roughly $250,000"—to address the unforeseen conditions caused by the root system, with the remaining portion held for other potential issues that may arise before final completion.

Commissioners questioned the delay between the initial surveys and discovery of the roots, and whether adjustments to preconstruction surveys or earlier site work could reduce similar surprises on future projects. Jackson said roots at that scale below grade are typically encountered only during excavation and noted the design team had surveyed the site in 2018 and again in 2020 before construction began in 2023.

Commissioners also asked about schedule impacts. Jackson said the project is roughly three months from substantial completion and expects final completion in December 2025.

The consent calendar vote was moved and seconded during the meeting; the Chair called the roll and the commission approved the consent calendar. The Minnesota Streetscape contingency request was included in that approved consent calendar.

The commission did not receive public comment on the consent calendar before voting.

The discussion clarified that the trees remain a priority to protect where feasible while still meeting ADA requirements for the right of way.