Lake Elmo awards $687,206 contract to Miller Excavating for Cassaw 14 water‑main upgrade

City engineer Nate Stanley presented the Cassaw 14 water main improvements on March 17 and asked the council to accept bids and award the construction contract. Stanley said the project will replace about 1,700 feet of 6‑inch cast‑iron pipe (installed in the 1960s) with a 12‑inch trunk line, will be bored in, and requires coordination with Washington County for detours and routing.

Stanley said eight bids were opened on March 5 and the low bidder was Miller Excavating at $687,206.54. He noted the total project estimate, which includes surveying, design, geotechnical work, legal fees and contingency, is $940,000; the construction bid alone is lower because it excludes those additional project development costs. The project will be funded from the water enterprise fund and includes a contract substantial completion date of Aug. 15, 2026.

The council discussed detour plans: westbound traffic on Cassaw 14 will be detoured via Manning Avenue, 10th Street and Inwood Avenue while eastbound traffic will be maintained as the through movement. Stanley said local business access will be maintained and that a short full closure of Layton Avenue may be required for a week or two when the connection is made.

After discussion about traffic impacts and scheduling relative to school use, the council moved to adopt Resolution 20 26 dash 0 19 accepting bids and awarding the contract to Miller Excavating for $687,206.54. The motion passed by roll call. Council also authorized the city administrator to enter a material testing contract not to exceed $20,000 for project construction phase services; that motion passed as well.

Stanley said a preconstruction meeting is planned for spring and construction would begin after school is out, with business access maintained during construction and the detour remaining in place for most of the contract period.