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Rice County awards multiple highway contracts and votes to install 4-way stop at Woodley & Spring Creek after heated debate
Summary
The board awarded highway contracts for culvert replacements ($669,574), aggregate surfacing ($348,787), a Lonsdale salt shed ($59,000), asphalt crushing ($70,550) and a cooperative planning agreement ($12,846.46). After extensive discussion with the City of Northfield and county staff, commissioners voted to install a 4-way stop at Woodley Street and Spring Creek Road.
Rice County’s highway department presented a slate of procurement items and a city-requested traffic control change during the March 10 meeting. Commissioners approved multiple contracts for 2026 road and facility work and took a separate, contested vote to add a 4‑way stop at the intersection of Woodley Street (County Road 28) and Spring Creek Road.
Highway staff recommended awarding culvert replacement and rehabilitation contract 26-50 to Steve James Excavating (low bid $669,574) and aggregate surfacing contract 26-51 to Kielmeier Construction (low responsible bid $348,787); both awards passed. Staff discussed material choices (crushed class 5 vs. crushed limestone class 2), quality-control testing and the department’s efforts to tighten acceptance procedures. The board also approved replacing the Lonsdale salt shed with Nelson Agri Structures for $59,000 and awarding an asphalt crushing contract to Tim’s Trucking (approx. $70,550) to reprocess about 15,000 tons of material at the landfill stockpile. A cooperative corridor/access study with Elko New Market and Scott County was approved for $12,846.46.
The meeting then moved into a lengthy discussion on a Northfield City Council request to install a 4-way stop at the Woodley/Spring Creek intersection to address safety concerns related to the Milltowns Trail crossing. Northfield City Administrator Ben Mardick and local commissioners advocated for a proactive stop control to protect trail users; the county engineer advised against a 4-way stop, saying the location does not meet traffic-warrant thresholds, citing traffic volumes (~2,200 vehicles/day on Woodley), lack of crash history, and potential unintended consequences including noncompliance and rear-end collisions. Commissioners debated sight-lines, anticipated trail usage, precedent and whether the county should cede jurisdiction inside city limits. After extended exchanges, the board approved installing a 4-way stop, overriding the engineer’s recommendation.
All contract motions passed with recorded approvals; the 4-way stop decision was the meeting’s most contested action and garnered the most public and commissioner commentary. Staff said additional pedestrian-focused features (rapid-flashing beacons, speed-display signs, lighting and pavement markings) are planned by the city as part of the Milltowns Trail project and the county noted a process to revisit traffic control if conditions change.
