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Meeker County details 2026 state-aid road projects; board authorizes letting dates
Summary
Public Works outlined a slate of 2026 state-aid projects — including Casa 20 overlays, a $2M Casa 14 widening, a $1.6M bridge replacement and federal HSIP edge-line upgrades — and the board authorized Public Works to set letting dates for construction advertising.
Phil Schmals, Meeker County public works director, presented the county’s 2026 state-aid construction and maintenance program, describing several projects the county plans to advertise and bid.
Schmals said the county will finish a 1.5-mile notch-and-widen overlay on the Casa 20 north–south segment (estimated $300,000) and pursue a 3.7-mile east–west portion of Casa 20 in coordination with Stearns County (roughly $1.2 million). He outlined a larger Casa 14 project in the east-central part of the county — a 7.4-mile widening and overlay from Darwin to Trunk Highway 24 — with an estimated cost of about $2,000,000 and a $900,000 Local Road Improvement Program (LRIP) application pending.
Schmals also identified the Casa 26 bridge (south of Cedar Mills) as closed and scheduled for replacement this year with an estimated state-aid construction cost of $1,600,000. He noted a Federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) project will upgrade edge-line markings from 4-inch to 6-inch lines (federal funds to cover roughly 90 percent) and that a countywide pavement-marking and center-line repaint effort (about 100 center-line miles) will use state aid maintenance funds (approx. $100,000). The county’s annual chip-seal program — covering about 16 miles (Casa 3 and Casa 12) — is estimated at about $550,000 and funded from state aid maintenance.
After outlining projects and contingent funding (state park road account and LRIP), Commissioner Schuch moved to authorize Public Works to set letting dates for the 2026 highway construction projects. The motion was seconded and carried on a voice vote.
Schmals told commissioners that several projects are contingent on external funding and noted federal and state programs available to reduce the county’s local share; he encouraged timely advertising to capture favorable bid prices.
The board authorized staff to proceed with advertisement and set construction letting dates for the projects presented.
