Forest Lake council authorizes plans and ad for bid for Eureka Avenue reconstruction

The Forest Lake City Council authorized plans and specifications and approved an ad for bid for the Eureka Avenue improvement project, a full street reconstruction that will add pedestrian facilities, a rectangular rapid flashing beacon at a crossing, limestone shoreline overlooks and additional parking.

City staff (Ryan) said the project schedule depends on finalizing a roadway easement from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and on state aid review, but recommended moving forward to test the bidding climate and preserve the project schedule. He told the council that construction work would likely be heavy in 2026 with finish work in 2027 and that the city hoped to advertise for bid and possibly award in October depending on easement timing and state approvals.

Counsel and staff discussed timing concerns tied to other regional construction (notably Highway 97) and Great River Energy's power-line relocation cost adjustments; Ryan noted the utility relocation estimate had changed from $150,000 to $378,000 and then to a revised $307,000 after negotiation. Council members expressed concern about the traffic impacts of simultaneous projects but supported authorizing the plans and seeking bids to preserve available funding and manage inflation risk.

A motion to approve the plans and specs and authorize an ad for bid was moved, seconded and adopted by voice vote. Staff said if bids return higher than expected the council would revisit the project, and that the city would not be committing to construction in 2026 until funding and easement issues are resolved.