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Cottage Grove orders $17M-plus 80th Street and East Point Douglas rehabilitation project
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Summary
The council ordered the 80th Street / East Point Douglas Road rehabilitation project after a public hearing; city staff estimated the city's portion at about $12 million and total project costs with MnDOT and county contributions at just over $17 million. Property assessments and staging were discussed.
The Cottage Grove City Council voted Dec. 3 to order rehabilitation work on 80th Street and East Point Douglas Road following a feasibility presentation and public hearing.
City Engineer Paul Sponholz described the corridor as a heavily used minor arterial (80th Street at over 23,000 vehicles per day) with pavement rutting, potholes and pedestrian gaps that require a rehabilitation project. He told the council the cityconstruction portion of the work is about $10,000,000 and that "after we include all the engineering, construction inspection and testing, the total project cost for the city's portion ... is about $12,000,000." With MnDOT and county work on the interchange, Sponholz said the total combined project cost is "just a little over $17,000,000." He described planned traffic staging, timing to avoid school impacts and an anticipated contractor start in spring with substantial work completed by late summer and fall.
Sponholz said preliminary assessments for adjacent properties were estimated under the citypolicy and that BRKW appraisals produced special-benefit valuations that limit assessable benefits to about $1,500,000 in total across assessed parcels. Funding sources described included a $5,000,000 federal grant, $1,800,000 in TIF funds, MnDOT contributions of roughly $5,200,000, a small utility contribution and use of municipal state aid funds with a requested advance of part of the city's 2027 allotment.
Council members asked about schedule risks from weather, whether contracts require weekend or extended work, and opportunities to televise sewers or address underground utilities while the road is open for construction. Sponholz said standard contract allowances and liquidated damages are used to encourage timely completion and that prior video inspection generally shows utilities in good condition but that a few repairs will be done as part of the project.
Councilmember Thiede moved to order the project and the motion carried with the four council members present voting in favor (Council Member Garza was absent). The city plans an additional open house in spring to present detailed staging and assessment information and will hold a follow-up assessment public hearing after final construction costs are determined.
