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Council approves HDR contract amendment, MnDOT to cover 90% of added corridor study costs
Summary
The council approved a $34,731.57 amendment to HDR Engineering’s Trunk Highway 59 corridor study; MnDOT will reimburse 90% of the additional cost under the existing agreement.
The Thief River Falls City Council voted to approve an amendment to HDR Engineering’s contract for an expanded corridor study of Trunk Highway 59 between First Street South and Eighth Street South.
The amendment adds $34,731.57 in work to a contract originally executed in October 2023 for estimated services of $269,781.60, and retains the prior reimbursement arrangement in which the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) covers 90% of costs and the city pays 10%.
City staff described the study as a preparatory step for a future construction project originally targeted for 2029 and said the expanded work aims to gather community, parcel-owner and stakeholder input early so decisions at later design stages better reflect local priorities. City staff emphasized the study does not lock in a specific project or final design; further decisions and right-of-way matters would involve property owners and additional funding choices.
Councilman Scott Pream moved to approve the extension and Councilman Steve Nowrud seconded. The motion passed on a voice vote.
Council members expressed caution about past experiences working with MnDOT but said early engagement through this study was intended to reduce later conflict and improve local influence over design choices.
The council did not set a construction schedule in the meeting; staff said the study would inform any later project and financing decisions and that additional design phases would include more detailed cost, right-of-way and parcel-owner decisions.
