North St. Paul lays out 2025 and 2027 Casey Lake street and utility reconstruction plan

North St. Paul City and engineering consultant WSB presented plans for full street and utility reconstruction in the Casey Lake neighborhood, scheduled in two phases in 2025 and 2027, during a virtual open house.

Kyle Hoff, project manager with WSB, said the project will include multiple streets and “full street and utility reconstruction in 2025 and 2027” and explained the work is phased so construction traffic from the 2027 work will not drive on roads newly reconstructed in 2025. The 2025 scope includes Gerald Avenue (Mohawk to Mesabi), Shawnee Drive (Casey Lake Park to McKnight), Buhl Avenue and the north side of Casey Lake Park; 2027 work will include Chisholm Avenue and Mesabi Avenue from the west-end cul-de-sac to Raditz Avenue.

Why it matters: city staff said the work will replace aging storm and sanitary sewers, water mains and services, correct subgrade problems, add or replace sidewalks and improve stormwater routing and basin capacity. Kyle Hoff said upgrades include water-main looping near Shawnee to reduce stagnation and increase fire-flow capacity, and a mix of sanitary sewer lining and reconstruction depending on condition.

Construction approach and resident impacts: Morgan Dolly, North St. Paul City engineer, described trenchless construction methods—“sewer lining or pipe bursting or directional drilling”—that will be used to limit open-cut excavation where practical and reduce impacts to yards and easements. Hoff said some open pits may be needed at trenchless work locations but emphasized an effort to avoid extensive excavation across yards.

Staff outlined practical impacts and mitigation measures for residents: contractors must provide driveway access at the end of the day except when concrete aprons or curb sections are freshly poured; newly poured concrete must be kept free of vehicles for at least five days to cure. Hoff said driveway replacement is limited to portions removed for project work and will be replaced in kind (asphalt for asphalt, concrete for concrete); he added that residents who want a full driveway replacement may contact the contractor for a private quote. Hoff said a typical reconstruction will require a minimum of about five feet of driveway replacement, with additional removal if utilities or curb/grade changes require it.

Schedule and hours: the city anticipates construction starting in late April or May 2025, with substantial completion by the end of September and final paving possibly at the end of October; staff warned that poor soils could delay final paving into 2026 to avoid winter settlement. Work hours are Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–7 p.m.; Saturday work is allowed beginning at 9 a.m.; Sunday work is not permitted.

Mail, trash and site restoration: Hoff explained that mailboxes typically are salvaged by the contractor and a temporary centralized mailbox location arranged with the post office for the duration of utility and road work (Morgan estimated temporary mailboxes commonly in place from May through September). Trash pickup schedules will remain the same; contractors will coordinate with haulers, temporarily relocate bins if necessary and return empties at day’s end. Any lawn disturbance caused by project work will be restored by the city's contractor with sod; the contractor will water restored areas for 30 days before homeowner maintenance responsibility begins.

Project communications and next steps: Hoff urged residents to sign up for project alerts on the city website for text, email or voicemail updates; those living inside project limits will receive more frequent, direct communications from the contractor, WSB and city staff. Morgan emphasized day-to-day updates may change routing and access and recommended residents use multiple notification methods.

Contact and follow-up: the city and consultant provided phone contact information during the open house for project questions and indicated that inspectors will provide right-of-entry forms if work will occur on private property. The city also said contractors must keep materials and equipment on city property or right of way and may store some materials in Casey Lake Park pending further coordination.

The open house closed with staff encouraging attendees to register for alerts and promising detailed construction schedules closer to the start date.